WEBVTT

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(♪♪)

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What you're looking

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at and probably smelling
is called sargassum.

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It's a floating brown algae
that provides valuable habitat

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for ocean animals,
including some that we eat.

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But when it washes
ashore in large amounts,

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too much sargassum can harm coastal ecosystems,

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hurt tourism, and cause health issues.

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But NOAA and its partners are dedicated to providing resources

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 that can help coastal communities,

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including data tools that help monitor and track

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where Sargassum will wash ashore.

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Conducting research to better understand

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and manage excess blooms
and offering

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support to coastal communities
dealing with these events.

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Find more information
and resources at:

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oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/sargassum