The historical review of data on the Sargasso Sea is vital. Knowing how people have regarded this critical part of the ocean over time will seriously strengthen the case for protection now. The “shifting baseline” of turtles, tunas, eels, and other creatures — including maybe the Sargassum itself — will come as news to many. Dr. Sylvia Earle – Sargassum & Coral Spawn – Photo: Look Bermuda I am in Bermuda now with some of the Sargasso Sea “constituency” looking forward to a second day of searching for Sargassum patches between hurricanes. Thanks to arrangements made by Sheila McKenna, senor research scientist for Mission Blue, we went aboard Explorer, the boat Teddy Tucker had for years (now owned and operated by Michael Hayward), and had a remarkable encounter with masses of floating coral spawn — zillions of golden eggs enmeshed in small patches of Sargassum. …