Sea foam, ocean foam, beach foam, or spume
Many people see foam on the beach and conclude that it is a result of some type of pollution. While this is sometimes the case, most sea foam is harmless and occurs naturally.
When large amounts of algae, seaweed and other marine plant life are broken down by wave action, they can degrade to molecules that act as foaming agents. When these molecules are mixed by turbulent waves and wind, they form bubbles held together by surface tension. This is the foam you see blown onto the beach.
There are also some harmful foams. This can result from algae blooms, such as red tide, that produce toxins and from human made sources such as fertilizers. These also produce foaming agents. As these foam bubbles burst they release contami nants that cause eye irritation and respiratory problems. Bird die offs have also been attributed to some foams. These contaminants destroy waterproofing on feathers making the birds susceptible to hypothermia and inhibiting flight.
Live shells should never be taken from any Florida State Park.