Have you smelled a strong, rotten egg-like odor in Gloucester? You’re not alone. In fact, the concern has prompted city officials to explain the reason behind the unpleasant smell.

The odor is coming from an invasive Japanese seaweed called Heterosiphonia japonica, the City of Gloucester explained in a Facebook post . When large amounts of seaweed wash ashore and decay, they release a rotten egg-like smell caused by the production of hydrogen sulfide gas.

“It’s a natural process,” the city explained.

Intense winds from Hurricane Erin pushed large chunks of the seaweed ashore and the high tides carried it into the estuary of Good Harbor. Without a strong current to pull the seaweed back out into the ocean, it has been sitting and decomposing.

“... which is what you’re smelling,” the

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