Golden seaweed tides accumulated in Pyropia aquaculture areas are becoming a normal phenomenon in the Yellow Sea of China

In January 2020, golden seaweed tides accumulated in the world's largest Pyropia aquaculture areas in the Yellow Sea of China again, resulting in great economic loss to local seaweed farmers. A large number (similar to 40,000 km(2)) of Sargassum thalli floated around Pyropia aquaculture areas until May 2020, drifting northeastward and becoming an ecological threat to the coastal areas of Jiangsu and Shandong provinces. In response, the local government is developing an emergency plan to prevent future golden tides, and this process requires an understanding of the mechanisms by which form the Sargassum blooms. As the global climate continues to change and the increase in human activities, sea surface temperatures rise, nutrient emissions and other factors that affect Sargassum blooms may lead to gradually enlarged ecological crises in the Pacific Northwest unless mitigation protocols are developed. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In January 2020, a golden seaweed tide occurred in the Yellow Sea of China, causing significant economic losses to local seaweed farmers. The floating Sargassum thalli drifted around Pyropia aquaculture areas until May 2020, eventually posing an ecological threat to coastal areas in Jiangsu and Shandong provinces. The local government is developing an emergency plan to prevent future golden tides and it is crucial to understand the mechanisms behind Sargassum blooms.