Sea Foam or Spume is as its name suggests just that. Foam is the result of gas, in this case air, mixing with liquid-seawater. This happens especially in the surf-zone when large waves are active. Dissolved organic particles in the seawater act as foaming agents or surfactants, similar to what you get in washing-up liquid. These make the foam very light and persistent allowing it to be blown and gather en masse along a beach and lasting for some time after. Yamba Beach in Australia is world famous for its sea foam accumulations, sometimes metres thick. Here’s what Carnivan had to offer earlier in the week. Around our shores, dissolved organic matter, DOM, is predominantly the remains of algae and is largely harmless. However, sewage, oil and other toxic substances can cling to this usually off-white foam and give it the appearance of chocolate mousse!