KINGSTON – The public has been advised to brace for an influx of the brown seaweed, known as Sargassum, in the coming months.
In a statement on Thursday, the National Environment Planning Agency (NEPA) said that Jamaica, like several other Caribbean Islands, will be affected by the seaweed which has been spotted offshore.
“Some beaches across the island, particularly in the (eastern parishes) of Portland, St Thomas, (the central parish) St Catherine and Westmorland (in western Jamaica) are already being heavily impacted.”
It is believed that the influx of seaweed is related to heightened ocean temperatures and the availability of nutrients discharged from major rivers within the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.
“The seaweed forms into large mats and is transported by ocean currents towards the Caribbean, washing up on beaches throughout the region,” said NEPA.
The environmental agency warned that as the seaweed decomposes, it produces an odour that attracts insects.
It further recommended that leaving the seaweed on the beach is the simplest and lowest cost solution.
However, NEPA noted that there are instances where it becomes necessary to remove the seaweed.
According to NEPA, should that need arise, the removal of Sargassum could be carried out manually through the use of non-intrusive methods.
The agency said if this is done, accumulated sand should be returned to the beach after raking. (CMC)