By Ricardo Blackman (CDN) Barbados From Caribbean Digital

A strange phenomenon occurred in the Caribbean in 2011. A massive tide of Sargassum, brown invasive algae, washed on to the shores of the region’s popular beaches. A similar event is occurring today causing tourism officials across the Caribbean to become concerned about the masses of smelly brown seaweed that are inundating coastlines.

Of interest was a recent “Letter To The Editor” in Barbados “WEEKEND NATION” of July 24th, 2015, in which the writer, a Dr. Paul A. Patrick, is suggesting that “ the Barbados government and all other countries that were negatively affected by the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico deserve to be compensated for economic losses caused by the disaster”

The writer goes on “As a Barbadian-born United States citizen who frequently returns to my country of birth, I am deeply disturbed by the polluted condition of our formerly pristine coastal waters.”

“In recent years, the waters surrounding the island and the formerly world class beaches have been invaded and polluted by brown, dead seaweed, and my fears were confirmed by your article entitled ‘ Marine Biologist Blames Humans For Seaweed Problem’ in your July 22,2015 edition. It reported that marine biologist, Andre Miller believes that “ the current Sargassum seaweed has been linked to the 2010 BP oil rig explosion”.

“My contention is that while the US has been rightly compensated with $20 to $56 Billion in damages and clean-up costs, Barbados currently faces coastal pollution, losses in its fishing and tourist revenue, directly due to this oil leak.

“BP needs to be held accountable by the Barbados government or some international tribunal for the ecological and economic destruction caused by their carelessness and greed.”

In Grenada, the St. George’s University is trying to identify the level and variety of the Sargassum seaweed that is taking over beaches there. Following a request from the government of China, the research is being carried out as the Chinese are saying that the seaweed could be beneficial to their country.

Sargassum has also been taking over the shorelines of beaches along Trinidad’s southeast coast and it has become a frequent visitor to Tobago as well, particularly since May of this year when Tobago’s Division of Agriculture, Marine Affairs and the Environment started removing Sargassum from its 16 beaches.

For more than a year now, the Sargassum seaweed has returned to the shores of Barbados and other Eastern Caribbean countries and Professor of marine ecology and fisheries with the University of the West Indies (UWI), Hazel Oxenford, said research showed that the seaweed was coming from a new source in the Amazon and was also being reported in Venezuela and Colombia.

“When it happened in 2011, it was a new phenomenon because we had never seen this Sargassum seaweed coming ashore in this part of the Caribbean. (At that time) it was also happening off the West Coast of South Africa.

“In 2011, it was a huge deal and many of the expensive resorts in Antigua and other places were closed because of the seaweed collecting in the windward bays and making swimming impossible. It has subsequently returned and hasn’t stopped since then, and we have to look at that.”

Our research shows, however, that while seaweed is normally seen as a nuisance for local residents and visitors alike, it does offer some ecological benefits. Plus, Sargassum is only temporary and it’s fairly unpredictable.

The algae originates in the Sargassa Sea in the Atlantic Ocean around Bermuda. The Atlantic is home to two species (S. natans and S. fluitans) which reproduce vegetatively and travel on the ocean’s surface. The two species are also found throughout the Caribbean and in the Gulf of Mexico, transported by the Gulf Stream.

An explanation given for the sudden invasion of algae on Caribbean shores is changing weather patterns creating warmer temperatures in the region. According to one marine biologist, cooler autumn weather traditionally slows the algae’s growth plus changes ocean circulation patterns, water temperature and nutrient systems and “typically keep the seaweed at sea.” As the sea temperature increases, Sargassum is more likely to make its way to the shores of Caribbean beaches.

Against this background, what can be done about the invasion of Sargassum seaweed on the beaches of the Caribbean, beyond simply cleaning the beaches?

Experts say one solution may be to dry and compact the seaweed into bales, and then use those bales as the base of new dunes. The theory is that the seaweed-based dunes will withstand waves and storm surges even better than normal ones. But that won’t help beaches that do not have dune systems, of course, which include many of those in the Caribbean.

Sargassum is sometimes used as a fertilizer, but there is certainly not a high enough demand in the Caribbean for that to make a dent in the amounts of the seaweed piling up across the region.

Dumping seaweed offshore may be an option, but this would also require heavy equipment and could possibly harm the marine environment.

In a pro-active initiative, the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus in Barbados, will be bringing together natural and social scientists for discussion with state agency environmentalists and others in a one-day symposium, aimed at better understanding and managing the seasonal influence of the floating eco system which has been inundating Caribbean shores since mid 2011.

The symposium, slated for August 17, 2015, at the 3 Ws Oval Pavilion, will involve other UWI campuses as researchers share their knowledge with besieged business sectors while hearing of the difficulties presented by the invasive algae.

Principal of the UWI Cave Hill Campus, Professor Eudine Barriteau says the potential threat to key industries is a major source of economic challenge which the UWI is well placed to help alleviate, given its technical expertise and knowledge that can aid in the region’s search for understanding and relief.

“The Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES) has been tasked with taking the lead in this initiative because they are our experts in coastal and marine research,” Professor Barriteau said. ‘There may be no ready solution but we are starting a process and a national conversation by which we offer hope and guidance to a nation and a region searching for relief and a way to control their current circumstance.”

“I do not expect our experts to come up with all the answers just after one round of consultation, but it is a start. We are beginning a process by saying to those who are affected and perhaps throwing up their hands in despair, that we have heard their cries and we believe we can help in their search for solutions.”

The Cave Hill Campus symposium will be the Campus’ second recent effort to tackle the build-up of Sargassum seaweed following a May 23rd, 2015 brain-storming session which examined ways in which business ventures could turn the marine trash into sea treasure.
IMAGES:
Beach-Sargassum 1
St. Thomas, Seaweed (SAP) Photo
seaweed 2
Seaweed is taking a toll on the Marinas in the Islands
Cleaning up the Beach in St Thomas

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