What is Coastal Zone Management doing to manage seaweed?

Galveston Park Board is the only entity on the island with the granted authority to clean seaweed off the beaches in federal jurisdiction. Sargassum seaweed can be a controversial subject among various stakeholders. Naturalists, marine biologists and oceanographers regard it as a vital component of the ecosystem. The State of Texas regards it as an important natural resource and restricts its complete removal due to the ecosystem services which it provides. However, under issued permits, the seaweed can be removed and relocated to the toe of the dunes.

Seaweed Emergency Relocation Program

To empower local entities to partake in its removal, the Park Board’s Coastal Zone Management Department has a permitting program referred to as the Seaweed Emergency Relocation Program. The overarching goal of the Seaweed Emergency Relocation Program is to enhance preparedness to be able to respond to an extreme seaweed event which could have lasting impacts on the Island’s tourism industry, such as the Summer of Seaweed 2014.

The permitting process associated with seaweed cleanup is extensive, and there are risks of fines if the permits are violated.

The registration period for the 2022 Seaweed Emergency Relocation Program for HOAs/POAs has opened. The registration period will last from March, 2022, until May 1^st, 2022. The following documents contain all necessary information pertaining to the program and application process.

Seaweed Emergency Relocation Program Application Packet

If you have any questions about enrollment in the Seaweed Emergency Relocation Program, please email the Park Board’s Environmental Coordinator.