Stinky beach? Florida lawmaker wants Chinese polluters held accountable

By Florida state Rep. Toby Overdorf

Every offshore angler worth their salt knows that mats of sargassum attract some of the most prized fish species in Florida waters — mahi, wahoo and triple tail, among many others. To most sea-going minds, sargassum or seaweed, a brown-colored floating macroalgae, is a vital part of marine ecosystems.

But its abnormal, massive proliferation is now causing serious ecological and economic problems for Floridians and our Caribbean waters’ neighbors like Cuba and parts of Mexico’s coast.

Scientists at the University of South Florida estimate that 30 million metric tons of sargassum are heading our way.

Carbon pollution in the atmosphere is changing Atlantic Ocean temperatures, currents and acidity in ways that favor runaway sargassum growth.

We’re literally watching global pollution wash ashore. We can no longer stand by while the world’s biggest polluters pump carbon into the air with no legal or economic consequence. Their indifference is harming the Sunshine State.

Who’s to blame? China is the world’s largest polluter, responsible for one-third of global carbon dioxide emissions — over 14 billion metric tons per year. These violations aren’t accidental. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), in manipulating global supply chains, uses lax environmental rules to undercut U.S. manufacturers, flood the market with cheap goods and avoid accountability.

China’s carbon emissions — again, the highest in the world — are helping fuel a seaweed invasion that’s expected to be 40% larger than the previous record in 2022.

The tons of seaweed will clog waterways and pile up on beaches, making it hard to enjoy the coast. Once ashore, decomposing sargassum releases the unpleasant odor of methane, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide — gases that irritate our eyes, noses and throats and contribute further to global warming. Under the hot summer sun, the stench can become nauseating and hazardous.

My colleagues in the Florida Legislature and I are determined to break this vicious cycle. Last year, I sponsored House Bill 517 — urging Congress for federal support for policy solutions that address pollution disparities between the U.S. and other countries. Our aim: hold foreign polluters to higher standards.

Here in Florida, strong conservative leadership has led to significant investments in natural resource protection. We use innovation and technology to reduce environmental impact and boost resilience against severe weather and other disasters. But there’s only so much we can do without help from global partners.

This year, Republican U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy (Louisiana) and Lindsey Graham (South Carolina) introduced federal legislation that would impose fees on top polluters like China and Russia. A plan like this would both enforce accountability abroad and strengthen U.S. manufacturing by promoting cleaner production practices.

Foreign pollution affects more than our beaches — it impacts tourism, one of Florida’s top industries. Sargassum deters visitors, which means fewer diners in restaurants, fewer guests at hotels and fewer customers in our shops. Piles of seaweed can shutter businesses, eliminate jobs and weaken local economies.

I’m not letting seaweed push me away from my favorite coastal destinations. The floating meadows coming our way are one more reason I’m pursuing real policy solutions to stop the harm before it reaches our shores.

It’s time to hold the world’s worst polluters accountable and protect the beauty, economy and sustainability of our great state.

Toby Overdorf (R-Palm City) represents House District 85 in the Florida House of Representatives. This opinion piece was originally published by the Miami Herald, which is a media partner of The Invading Sea. Banner photo: A Florida beach covered in sargassum (iStock image),

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