Sargassum seaweed poses threat to baby sea turtles' journey to the ocean

JUNO BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — For humans, sargassum seaweed can be a big inconvenience, but for baby sea turtles, it can be a big benefit.

“As soon as they hit the ocean they head east and find that sargassum patch, in that sargassum is their natural food," said CEO of Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Andy Dehart.

Depending on the species, some baby sea turtles can spend three to five years living amongst sargassum seaweed.

Some researchers are concerned the increase in sargassum on our shores this summer will make it harder for the hatchlings to get to the ocean safely.

"It makes them quite vulnerable to predators," said FAU researcher, Dr. Sarah Milton.

Dr. Milton studies sea turtle physiology and conservation.

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In a recent study, her team piled seaweed towards the last two meters of the shore and timed how long it took hatchlings to get through it and out to sea.

“If the sargassum is too high they actually can’t even make it across the sargassum, the hatchlings can’t, and even for lower amounts it can take them a lot more time to struggle over those piles," said Milton.

With the amount of seaweed expected to increase come July, Milton fears it will only lessen the hatchlings' chance for survival.

“There are fewer hatchlings that make it out of the nest because it’s just so hot so they don’t survive so to add something that reduces the number that survive even further is just going to be a negative impact," said Milton,

Dr. Milton says it does not help to remove or rake up the seaweed because of its benefits to the beach.

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Milton reminds the public to make sure you fill up any holes when you leave the beach, making it just a little easier for moms and baby sea turtles to get to the ocean safely.