Coastal Scientists Predict Heavy Influx of Seaweed to Affect Key Sectors
19 April 2023
Two of the region’s key economic sectors are expected to be severely disrupted by heavier than usual influxes of Sargassum seaweed across the Eastern Caribbean in the coming months.
The warning was made in the March Issue of the Sargassum Sub Regional Outlook Bulletin published by Centre for Resource Management and Environment Studies (CERMES), of the UWI Cave Hill campus.
According to the publication, the heavy influxes of sargassum will be deposited on beaches in the northern and middle islands of the Eastern Caribbean. These substantial seaweed deposits are likely to be a concern for tourism officials and tourists when considering recreational/relaxing experiences on these islands. Visitors are advised, however, that despite high volumes of predicted sargassum, leeward (west coast) beaches generally remain sargassum-free.
The fisheries sector is also expected to be affected as pelagic fishery will continue to be disrupted in the northern and middle islands by large rafts of sargassum at sea. This results in several challenges, including difficulty inavigating through thick sargassum at night. Near-shore mooring sites and landing beaches on eastward facing coastlines will also likely become inundated with sargassum.
During the first quarter of 2023, most Eastern Caribbean islands have already experienced record amounts of sargassum in a period that is otherwise relatively free of seaweed. This is expected to increase in the coming weeks as already there is twice as much (202 per cent more) sargassum visible out in the Atlantic as seen this time last year.
Click here to read more from CERMES.
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