BARBADOS AND OTHER CARICOM countries have finally recognised the urgent need for a strategy to deal with Sargassum seaweed, described as “a potential economic disaster for those who earn their living from tourism and other coastal industries”. As far back as I can remember, there’s always been some on our beaches, but more recently, it’s safe to say that most beaches have been literally inundated.
Our tourism industry is threatened by the onslaught, and it’s useless saying we must educate visitors that it’s a natural phenomenon and isn’t harmful. That would be lost on all except the so-called “tree huggers” or extreme environmentalists. I can’t see visitors being satisfied to swim in water resembling pea soup. But I certainly agree with promoting the fact that not all our beaches are affected. Those like Browne’s beach and many on the west coast remain pristine.
While a few individuals have been quietly utilising the weed over the last few years, there has been no coordinated national or regional response, and very little comment from Government, so the recently reported stakeholder meeting is a welcome step in the right direction. The collaboration of people in multiple fields to pool knowledge and experience to produce a cohesive scientifically based action plan should yield positive results as long as any such plan is implemented without delay.
What I find surprising though, is that Minister Sinckler is quoted as describing the seaweed as “downright scary” and a “potentially mammoth threat”, yet he allocates only $1 million to combat it. Compare this to the $400 million to be spent on a sugar factory we don’t need and $700 million on a waste to energy plant that could pose severe danger to us all. Mexico, on the other hand spends millions of dollars annually to protect their tourism product.
While Sargassum usually originates from the Sargasso sea, recently it seems to be coming via the Amazon. It’s felt that the “unusual” seaweed accumulation could be due to high levels of nutrients (possibly from the Amazon river) in ocean water and a combination of climate change related factors like ocean temperatures, currents or wind patterns. Some suggest low wind speeds prevent it from breaking up, hence the large raft-like mats.
Whatever the reason, we need a practical method to control the seaweed on beaches without causing erosion or destroying animal life. While sargassum mats normally provide protection and food for marine species like sea turtles, fish, mammals and birds, add nutrients to the beach ecosystem and help build protective dunes, excessive amounts negatively affect fishermen, harm coral reefs, prevent sea turtle nesting and obviously deter tourists.
The first mistake was not to aggressively tackle the problem early. Be that as it may, it would seem that diverting it before it reaches our popular beaches would be preferable to trying to dispose of it after it has landed. The Crane hotel seems to be using this approach which has also been mentioned by scientists. Perhaps seine nets could be positioned outside the reefs of our most popular beaches.
But while we’re trying to divert it, we still have to clear what has already accumulated. Instead of transporting it across the island at high cost, couldn’t it be raked back with light equipment wherever possible, to the dune areas just beyond these beaches to stabilise them and provide fertiliser for sand dune plants? Some could also be transported to nearby rocky coastal areas to eventually build soil. This should dispel concerns about raising soil salinity since these areas would already be salt laden. This is actually done in Ireland.
Some entrepreneurs are incorporating the weed in soil amendments and using it successfully as fertiliser, but this utilises a fraction of what is currently on our beaches.
SBRC has had the weed analysed and is offering payment for it. They’ve also initiated trials using it in animal feeds. Researchers from McGill’s Sustainable Research Project recently experimented with the extraction of alginates (used in foods and pharmaceuticals) from it.
A myriad of uses which could be tested are documented on the Internet: soaps, body baths (as I saw in Ireland) compressed board reportedly demonstrated at the recent meeting and so on. Isn’t biogas also a possibility?
Although I’m not as adventurous as the late Keith Laurie, I’ve actually just eaten a toasted seaweed (from Wales) egg, tomato and cheese sandwich which was quite tasty.
• Dr Frances Chandler is a former independent senator. Email fchandler @caribsurf.com
