Tar balls wash ashore along Florida beaches ahead of spring break season

[Emile]

Witnesses reported seeing tar balls along beaches from Palm Beach through Fort Lauderdale along Florida’s east coast. “Red flags are up to warn swimmers about water conditions. Environmental experts have not advised closing the beach at this time and are closely monitoring the situation," the City of Deerfield Beach said.

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. – Beachgoers in South Florida are on alert after tar balls began washing up on the coast between West Palm Beach and Miami-Dade County on Saturday, causing concern among residents of potential environmental damage.

The Coast Guard said it was actively investigating the source of the oily substance, for which similar events in the past have been connected to large vessels.

Officials along some beaches advised swimmers to stay out of the water, though the sand portions of the beaches remained open for sunbathers.

Read more at: https://www.foxweather.com/earth-space/fla-pollution-beach-ocean

[sop]

1. A friend brings mineral spirits on outings to the beach to remove tar from her kids' feet.

The tar, buried just below the surface of the sand, sticks to your feet when you walk along the beach. You can see gobs of the thick, oily stuff bobbing in the surf, clinging to clumps of seaweed. This has been happening for years off South Florida beaches, but lately it's getting worse.

[Deuxcents]

2. Tar balls were along the beaches of Dade County when I was a kid..was always told it was from the ships