The seasonal influx of Sargassum seaweed on Caribbean beaches has got the attention of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and tourism policymakers and practitioners across the region.
Sargassum is a natural occurrence believed to originate in the Sargasso Sea, a two million-square-mile body of warm water in the north Atlantic near Bermuda, although some scientists believe the current influx was brought into the Eastern Caribbean through the North Brazil Current and because it thrives in warm, nutrient-rich water, the Sargassum simply spreads throughout the region
It is an unwelcome visitor which can be uncomfortable and which takes away from the beach experience for our guests.
The CTO and our Caribbean partners are treating this matter seriously and with urgency. We have engaged a number of regional and international institutions in our attempts at finding solutions, among them, universities.
A number of theories have been advanced as to the cause of the latest influx, and myriad suggestions put forward for tackling the issue. We will be participating in a symposium being led by the University of the West Indies (UWI) next Monday, August 17th “to crystallize these myriad ideas and theories into workable solutions that can be implemented immediately to address our situation.” We are optimistic that meaningful solutions will emerge.
Among our CTO member-countries the issue differs significantly from one set of circumstances to another, as does the level of the incursion. Even in destinations which are at risk, not all beaches have been affected; in some cases it’s just on the windward coast and not the leeward.
But many seem to agree that what’s needed is a deeper understanding of how to tackle the issue collaboratively, with key stakeholders, public- and private-sector, contributing to the discussion. This is what the CTO is encouraging; this is what we are involved
The Caribbean has countless attributes which makes our region a most desirable holiday destination. Our history, culture, cuisine, music, hiking, diving, bird-watching, festivals, etc, all make for unforgettable experiences. However, for most of our members, the beach is an integral part of this experience, the pristine nature of which we are proud. We are aware that the influx of sargassum can impact this aspect of our product and we will be at the centre of efforts to find a regional solution.
Lots of thing can be done with seaweed (here is a good document about industrial use of the algae : ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/006/y4765e/y4765e00.pdf).
But people must understand that without efficient collecting solutions, you can’t do anything.
To re-use the sargassum as manure, you have to wash the sand and salt out of it.
To turn it into a real strength for a country, you have to collect large amounts and pre-process them in order to make them valorizable (ex : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=punQjjz_w34&feature=em-upload_owner)
But it can be a solution, as in Indonesia : http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/96106/seaweed-major-source-of-indonesian-farmers-income.
I was thinking the same thing. We can make an industry out of this. Seaweed is very very rich in nutrients. I see a lot of people keep saying fertilizer, try it out!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank God Dominica has alot more to often besides the beach ….we have more than the beach to attract tourist
our farmers needed to take advantage of this …organic fertilizers……composting
We are so clueless. i happen to have stumbled on a study of this particular seaweed. It is used for certain ailments, it is also filled with iron which is good for the enriching of soil..thus it can be used for manure. It also feeds a number of fish species and makes them healthier to eat.
We just shut down natural things around us because it does not benefit our pockets or it does not suite our dumb lifestyles. READ and use the natural resources to make this world a better place. Sometimes things come to us not how we want it…but how it is designed by the Creator.
CTO investigate on how to use this to our benefit and spread an awareness on its natural uses before finding a way to get rid of it. LETS HELP THE WORLD AND STOP THINKING ABOUT OUR POCKETS.
The influx of sea weed could be as a result of dead zones. “Dead zone” is a more common term for hypoxia, which refers to a reduced level of oxygen in the water. When farmers fertilize their lands preparing for crop season, rain washes fertilizer off the land and into streams and rivers and this causes marine life to die. We can all try to curb this situation as we take precautionary measures.
Fertilizer…
SMH. This is our problem in the Caribbean… We don’t do a little research or do a little extra reading. We have the internet but don’t utilize it. Sea weed and other sea plants are rich in nutrients for both humans and agricultural plants alike. They claim that the sea weed is an unwelcome’d visitor when in fact it can be used as fertilizer in our gardens and protects the plants against pests and parasites. An unwelcome’d visitor? I think not…. More like a blessing in disguise. Common sense should prevail. This is God working with the farmers.
Nature shouldn’t be faulted when man fails to seek knowledge.
Oh my! It really is an invasion, a bad one. What a thing to happen on the beaches. How did this get there and so far? If it continues, it will be destruction of tourism.
Would this be a scourge? Will it cease? I wonder what could be done about it and soon.
Depending on others to give you bread you economy will alway be insecure. tourism .no tourist no dollar, keep on sleeping
Wash and Use as Mulch and also in Composting.
It’s Free.
Make seamoss with it…
Old time people used to call it sea gold because they use it to make fertiliser. Dominicans too damn lazy to make use of it these days..some just want to beg a dollar from tourist when de bus pass by…and buy imported chicken from KFC..
a curse on the caibbean for the wicked corruption the leaders are getting involve with. plagues and more soon to come we havent seen nothing yet!!!!! wicked souls
Free fertilizer??
Simple. It might be a blessing in disguise. when you are given what seemed to be a lemon, You should consider lemonade. Maybe something could be made from the abundance of sea weed.
Sargassum Seaweed from Problem to Profit
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6nkRU0-4Kf8
Fertilizer
Natural fertiliser!
fertilizer my friend
Positive thinking
Boy, that is serious. The place stinking like rotting eggs. You think tourist want to come to that? How about the people that built homes, especially on the East coast. I’m not blaming anyway but that is going to cost us money. Just one criticism. I see the harbour at Marigot clogged wit that. Surely it is possible to clean that up at least and stopping it from coming in?
My dear Dominica still better off!! It is worst in Barbados and they have more beaches. It stinks in Barbados right now.
Paper making