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Dreaded seaweed invades VI shores yet again
The seasonal seaweed has in recent days been spotted accumulating in areas across Trellis Bay, Beef Island, Sea Cows Bay, sections of East-End and Fat Hogs Bay among other locations around Tortola and its sister islands.
Clean-up Policy?
The seasonal invasion of the floating algae serves as a marine habitat for hundreds of fish and turtle species but is also disruptive. The accumulation of the seaweed in the pristine VI waters, in addition to its foul odour, is often times the source of blockages in the seawater intakes at strategic locations throughout the Territory.
This, in addition to the potential disruption to navigation in affected harbours. The invasion of ‘sargassum seaweed’ also leads to a marked reduction in beach related activities – a cause for concern in light of the tourism industry already being significantly hampered by Hurricanes Irma and Maria last year. The foul odor has also been found to have infected potable water supplies across the Territory.
The VI Government has in recent years explored a range of alternatives aimed at mitigating the impacts of the annual seaweed invasion and its deleterious effects but is yet to come up with a working solution. It is unclear what the Government policy is for dealing with the seasonal disruption. There have also been no formal announcements on its clean up.
2018 Historical
Sargassum Seaweed is a floating algae that is accompanied by a putrid smell akin to that of rotting eggs—a result of its decaying process. The stench can in fact prove to be a severe irritant to persons with sensitive respiratory systems particularly.
The University of Florida in early February 2018, predicted this year “would be another Sargassum year for the Caribbean.” The prediction was based on historical bloom patterns and on the observed bloom in the central West Atlantic in January 2018.”
The University study had said, “…in the coming months there is a high chance that the bloom and sargassum beaching in the Caribbean will continue to at least August 2018, and possibly exceed the historical record in 2015.”
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10 Responses to “Dreaded seaweed invades VI shores yet again”
Are there any measures in place for clean up.
Is this scent harmful to kids and pregnant women?
Please don't wait for an effect to try and Fix the Cause....