“That’s the million-dollar question,” he remarked. “I don’t have a very satisfactory answer.”
There are three distinct types of Sargassum found in the Caribbean and surrounding regions, buoyed by small air sacs, which makes their presence truly remarkable. According to Burns, scientists are currently observing various factors influencing its growth, which depend on sunlight, nutrients, and water temperature.
Experts also point to agricultural runoff, warmer waters, and alterations in wind, currents, and rainfall as factors that can have an impact.
Large mats of algae in the open ocean create what Burns refers to as a “healthy and thriving ecosystem,” home to species ranging from tiny shrimp to endangered sea turtles. However, Sargassum close to shore can wreak havoc.
It can block sunlight essential for coral reefs and seagrasses, and when the algae sink, they may suffocate these ecosystems. Once washed ashore, the organisms that inhabit the algae either perish or are scavenged by birds, according to Burns.
The massive piles of odorous seaweed pose a significant challenge for the Caribbean, especially since tourism is a vital economic driver for many small islands.
“It’s a hurdle, but it hasn’t impacted every corner of the Caribbean,” said Frank Comitto, a special advisor to the Caribbean Hotels and Tourism Association.
At a popular tourist destination in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, officials have invested in barriers to keep Sargassum from reaching the beaches, he noted.
In St. Maarten’s Dutch Caribbean territory, teams equipped with backhoes were mobilized for an emergency cleanup after residents reported a strong ammonia and hydrogen sulfide odor.
“The smell is quite unpleasant,” Burns stated.
Meanwhile, in the French Caribbean, officials plan to quickly utilize storage barges and specialized vessels capable of collecting several tons of seaweed daily.
Sargassum “will harm our coastlines, hinder swimming, and create unbearable living conditions for local residents,” French Prime Minister François Beilou recently informed the press.
However, Comitto mentioned that employing such vessels is “very costly” and not widely accepted, while an alternative method (using heavy machinery) is labor-intensive.
“We must tread carefully, as sea turtle eggs might be affected,” he advised. “You can’t just go there and bulldoze everything away.”
As some Caribbean islands face financial challenges, most cleanup efforts fall to hotels, with certain guests receiving refunds and complimentary shuttles to unaffected beaches.
Each year, the volume of Sargassum increases at the end of spring, peaks during summer, and then starts to decline in late autumn or early winter, noted Burns.
The recent record levels remain relatively stationary. Experts are hopeful for more Sargassum in June.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
