FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The U.S. Coast Guard has been actively searching for the source of tar balls that have made their appearance on beaches in South Florida since the weekend; however, the origins of this dark substance are still unknown.
The Coast Guard is currently investigating sightings of tar balls that were reported stretching from Port Everglades to Palm Beach along the Atlantic coast, as stated by the agency in an official announcement.
Several South Florida beaches were closed on Saturday due to the influx of tar balls but have since reopened to the public.
**Understanding Tar Balls**
Tar balls are small, dark clumps of oil that can adhere to the feet of visitors on the beach, as described by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
These oil remnants can originate from oil spills, but they may also result from natural seeps, where petroleum gradually escapes from reservoirs beneath the ocean floor. NOAA pointed out that this was a potential cause of tar balls reported on Huntington Beach in California back in March 2024.
According to NOAA’s informational sheet, while some tar balls can reach the size of pancakes, most are roughly the size of a coin. The agency notes their resilience in the marine environment, noting they can travel hundreds of miles.
While most individuals are not adversely affected by brief contact with small amounts of oil, those with heightened sensitivities to chemicals might experience rashes or allergic responses when exposed to tar balls.
**The Search for Answers**
Coast Guard personnel have conducted aerial and marine searches but have not yet identified a specific source for the tar balls, as indicated by Coast Guard Petty Officer Nicholas Strasburg on Wednesday.
Strasburg also mentioned that it is expected that any tar balls washing ashore will dissipate naturally over time.
Although the Coast Guard has ceased its investigation into the source, it is collaborating with local communities to address any ongoing concerns they may have, he added.
No evidence links the tar balls to Port Everglades situated off Fort Lauderdale. However, large oil tankers regularly anchor near the port, which handles more than 12.5 million gallons (approximately 47.3 million liters) of products—including gasoline and jet fuel—each day through tankers and barges. Numerous petroleum terminals in the vicinity further complicate the matter, according to port officials.
**Historical Context**
Instances of tar balls washing ashore are not uncommon. In October, the Canadian Coast Guard managed to remove tar balls that surfaced from a World War II-era shipwreck along the coast of British Columbia. This U.S. Army transport ship has been leaking oil since it sank in 1946 after hitting a rock.
In October 2020, tar balls were also sighted along parts of the Atlantic shoreline in Delaware and Maryland.
Earlier, in May 2019, Padre Island in Texas experienced trouble with tar balls described as “very soft” that became stuck on the feet of visitors.
Moreover, after the tragic explosion and subsequent oil spill involving the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig in 2010, numerous reports of tar balls appearing along beaches on the U.S. Gulf Coast were recorded.
