Over the past few weeks, seaweed from the Sargasso Sea has been washing up on beaches in the Caribbean. This has reportedly been happening due to changing currents and more powerful storms due to climate change.
This has resulted in increasing growth rates of different marine species.
The species being observed is a brown, macro-algae called Sargussum fluitans (sargassum seaweed). Its described as a free-floating algae found on the open sea surface . It is often found in association with Sargasso weed (Sargassum natans) that is native to the Caribbean.
It's a situation that is posing serious problems for local ecosystems and critical industries such as tourism and fishing.
The seaweed is being lames for clogging the engines of boats used by fishermen.
Sandra Prescod Dalrymple, environmental resource management specialist with ESP Consultants (Caribbean) Inc. told IPS that the sargassum weed washing up on shores results in increasing numbers of flies and other vermin, putrid scent, and inconvenience for beach users.
In the long term, there could be serious health issues if the situation is not dealt with in a timely and effective manner.
She reportedly adds that the tourism industry will be impacted since tourists usually come to the region primarily for its sea and sand.
The government of Antigua has reportedly said that the large mats of algae in bays and on beaches could disrupt recreational, fishing and boating activities, disrupt the movement of marine turtles coming to beaches to lay their eggs, cause fishing gear and vessels to become entangled or obstruct general vessel traffic.
Other Caribbean islands being affected include Grenada, Barbados, St. Lucia and St. Bartholomew.
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