Research centers and universities, for example, are using it as a source of biofuel, thanks to its composition of lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose; sodium alginate, a polysaccharide that can also be found in sargassum and that acts as a thickener, is used in the textile industry and for haute cuisine. A carpet of brown algae recently surrounded an uninhabited island near the French Caribbean territory of St. Martin that is popular with tourists, forcing officials to suspend ferry service and cancel kayaking and snorkeling tours. "It is absolutely devastating for the region.". USF-NASA : 2023 major blooms of sargassum ? Cleaner beaches would, after all, advertise and promote tourism in the Keys. Ranger Ed and I did a quick walkabout of five Atlantic-facing Key West beaches on this weeks rainy Tuesday morning. We are working to prevent them from reaching the beaches and if they do, to collect them.. Of course, there's seaweed on every beach in the world, but it is rare for us to get more than a little - except after a major storm. The sheer volume makes clean-up impossible. We have been to the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? This map was created by a user. We are Atlantic-facing, so don't have the same kind of issues as many of the Caribbean and Central American countries. 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This summer's influx of sargassum, which has threatened water and energy production on St. Croix, has provoked the government to consider how it can best protect the people who have to deal with its clean-up and disposal. We need sargassum. This year, the amount of sargassum has already reached historic figures in the Atlantic Ocean: in June, more than 24 million tons of the brown tide were recorded in the Caribbean coast, from Puerto Rico to Barbados, according to a report from the oceanography laboratory of the University of South Florida. The phenomenon has broken records this year and has become one of the great environmental concerns of the coastal areas of the region. Find beaches without seaweed in the Riviera Maya, Mexico. Out in the open waterwhere the seaweed drifts freely across a region of the Atlantic called the Sargasso Seasargassum is a happy home for several creatures, including species of eels, shrimp,. In fact, experts are predicting that the sargassum crisis in 2023 could be as bad as the one in 2022, or even worse. A record amount of seaweed is smothering Caribbean coasts from Puerto Rico to Barbados. Since 2011, large amounts of sargassum have invaded the Caribbean every year except 2013 an anomaly that scientists believe may have resulted from a lack of nutrients and a change in wind strength and direction. Another problem that stems from the removal of sargassum is how poorly they dispose of it. Experts first noted large amounts of sargassum in the Caribbean Sea in 2011 that Hu and other scientists think were created by stronger than normal winds and currents. Minneapolis. But large arrivals of sargassum have also reached the north coast of Brazil and even Florida, says Rodrguez. 1. This is a new record amount of Sargassum in summer 2022 that were seeing in the Caribbean and beyond, said Brian Lapointe, a principal investigator of ecology and water quality at Florida Atlantic Universitys Harbor Branch Oceanic Institute. AP Near-record amounts of seaweed are smothering Caribbean coasts from Puerto. Hes also heard of beaches in Key West stained a muddy brown. Report inappropriate content EGS-1 Northboro, MA Level Contributor 104 posts 2. We dont want them anyway, they say, and since sargassum is normal, its not harming the environment. Got something to say? The arrival of seaweed starts in March and by the end of April, it spreads all over the area. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico A record amount of seaweed is smothering Caribbean coasts from Puerto Rico to Barbados as tons of brown algae kill wildlife, choke the tourism industry and release toxic gases. "The sargassum stranding in the North Sound is unlike any we have experienced previously in terms of its location, weather conditions and scale," officials said. "This is the worst we've ever seen it for sure," said Melody Rouveure, general manager for a tour company in the Dutch Caribbean territory of St. Maarten, which shares an island with St. Martin. http://sargassummonitoring.com/ Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. Re: Sargassum 1 year ago Save Take a look at this web site. Technically, the Bahamas is not in the Caribbean, so we don't get the same levels of seaweed as in some other areas. Scientists say more research is needed to determine why sargassum levels in the region are reaching new highs, but the United Nations' Caribbean Environment Program says possible factors include a rise in water temperatures as a result of climate change and nitrogen-laden fertilizers and sewage waste fueling algae blooms. SLS Baha Mar - need help deciding (option 2 is the Reef). Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. Sargassum in moderation helps purify water, absorb carbon dioxide and is a key habitat for fish . Some Key West folks seem to get a certain pleasure in cheering any reduction in visitors. Recently back from a week on Briland Nov 08, 2022. they report the arrivals of sargassum in the entire Caribbean and more. These biopolymers, whose antitumor and immunomodulatory properties are currently being researched, could even be used as cancer therapies, according to some studies. MTO FRANCE : 30/01/2023 Prvision dchouements dalgues sargasses, 28/01/2023 Sargassum seaweed Satellite views, MTO FRANCE : 26/01/2023 Prvision dchouements dalgues sargasses, Mexico : 2023 un ao con mucho sargazo para el Caribe Mexicano, MTO FRANCE : 23/01/2023 Bulletin de prvision dchouements de sargasses plagiques, 21/01/2023 Sargassum seaweed Satellite views, Mexico : Sol, mary sargazo: cmo la energa puede rescatar al paraso mexicano, MTO FRANCE Antilles Francaises : 16/01/2023 Bulletin de prvision dchouements de sargasses plagiques, 14/01/2023 Sargassum seaweed Satellite views, ANTILLES FRANCAISES : 09/01/2023 BULLETIN DE PREVISION DECHOUEMENT DES SARGASSES PELAGIQUES, Mexico & Florida: Growth rates of pelagic Sargassum species in the Mexican Caribbean, 06/01/2023 Sargassum seaweed Satellite views, ANTILLES FRANCAISES : 02/01/2023 BULLETIN DE PREVISION DECHOUEMENT DES SARGASSES PELAGIQUES, 01/01/2023 Sargassum seaweed Satellite views. Sargassum has mounded up as much as four feet high in Antigua; the Mexican government funneled millions of dollars toward efforts to haul it from the countrys beaches; Barbados treated its inundated shores as a national emergency. Sponsors receive premium positions and links to their websites and social media. And if the seaweed is heavier due to a storm, Atlantis rakes their beach daily, so there shouldn't be an issue. MARTINIQUE : Les poissons dlevage sont bien morts cause des sargasses, BONAIRE: Sargassum Fertilizer Transfers Heavy Metals to Vegetables, MEXICO: Mexican Navy Admit Failure In Stopping Sargassum Deposits In Cancun, Mexico News : Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum Being Overrun By Seaweed, Mexico : Cancun Braces For Worst Sargassum Seaweed Season In Five Years, Guadeloupe : Guadeloupe : Les sargasses saccumulent, les nuisances olfactives et visuelles reviennent, Mexico Riviera Maya : ADVIERTEN OPACIDAD EN EL TEMA DE DISPOSICIN Y MANEJO DEL SARGAZO, Mexico Riviera Maya : El sargazo se adelanta y pega con ms intensidad, Mexico : Sin recursos ni personal suficiente para contener el sargazo; an desatendidas, enormes extensiones en las costas del Caribe mexicano. The catch? hide caption. It all began in the summer of 2011, when sargassum started to accumulate on the beaches of many destinations with crystal clear waters and white sands. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. they are up-dated 7/7, 365 days/year. See. we are independent & do not serve the interests of any government or tourism association. "We're very concerned about that.". LaPointe has studied Sargassum for more than three decades, and has yet to see a statewide influx as prolific as the current wave. - thanks to the photos/videos and dates you can quickly make your own opinion on the . In 2022, Mexican federal officials expected the arrival of 32 thousand tons of sargassum seaweed in the country. Playa del Carmens beaches are facing an influx of seaweed, however, the cleanliness of the beaches varies depending on location and the presence of organized cleaning services. The excess of nitrogen and phosphorus derived from the putrefaction process serves as fertilizer for them to grow more, generating leachates, sulfidic acid and arsenic, which are responsible for the fetid and rotten smell that has now become common in some Caribbean tourist destinations. Mexico : Norma Muoz: La gente no est informada de los efectos del sargazo, dice que las afectaciones las mand Dios, Mexico : EL SARGAZO NO SE CONVIERTE EN ARENA, France : Bilan du BRGM : les taux mesurs en arsenic et en chlorure de sodium dpassent les normes imposes, Sargassum is worsening the conditions of the poorest people in Ghana, Un mystre aux proportions ocaniques : des algues sargasses forment dsormais un pont vgtal entre lAmrique et lAfrique, Republica Dominicana : Sargazo llega hasta las costas de Saman afectando las aguas del mar, Mexico : Sargazo, amenaza para el turismo y la salud, Mexico: On Mexicos Caribbean coast, mountains of seaweed grow, Florida USA : Invasion of the seaweed. The government has deployed a series of measures to fight the issue, especially in Quintana Roo, where Cancun is located and which has a higher number of visitors. This assessment focuses only on the tourism impacts of sargassum. Cette dcision concerne Saint-Barthlmy, Saint-Martin, la Guadeloupe et la Martinique. We are well past the who or what is to blame stage. Lakes Beach is covered in sargassum in St. Andrew along the east coast of Barbados on July 27. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. On July 31, sargassum lined the beach at the Margaritaville Resort on St. Thomas. Water taxi hours Nov 08, 2022. Can a long-run strategy be put into place that amortizes the cost of mitigation over a longer period of time? No purchase necessary. Hello! 2022 beaches impacted by Sargassum seaweeds. Former college lecturer but never again! And then it clears. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. What is the best way to arrive in the Bahamas? Mexico : Norma Muoz: La gente no est informada de los efectos del sargazo, dice que las afectaciones las mand Dios, Mexico : EL SARGAZO NO SE CONVIERTE EN ARENA, France : Bilan du BRGM : les taux mesurs en arsenic et en chlorure de sodium dpassent les normes imposes, Sargassum is worsening the conditions of the poorest people in Ghana, Un mystre aux proportions ocaniques : des algues sargasses forment dsormais un pont vgtal entre lAmrique et lAfrique, Republica Dominicana : Sargazo llega hasta las costas de Saman afectando las aguas del mar, Mexico : Sargazo, amenaza para el turismo y la salud, Mexico: On Mexicos Caribbean coast, mountains of seaweed grow, Sargassum, the brown tide that is invading the Caribbean, Puerto Rico: Buscan soluciones en el Caribe al sargazo, que marc un rcord histrico, Afrique : Influence des algues sargasses (sargassum fluitans, sargassum natans) sur les activits socioconomiques le long du littoral ivoirien Cte dIvoire Afrique de louest, Puerto Rico : Record amount of seaweed chokes Caribbean beaches and shoreline, Mexico : SARGAZO PROVOCA MUERTE DE TORTUGAS EN MAHAHUAL. (Source photo by Sian Cobb) All rights reserved. Cette dcision concerne Saint-Barthlmy, Saint-Martin, la Guadeloupe et la Martinique. 2019: OMG! By 2018, the volume was concerning, and then it decreased. "This has been devastating for over a decade. When there are storms, we do get more seaweed than usual, but it's not exactly a "problem" like some other . Our sponsors include individuals, organizations, not-for-profits and businesses that share the Key West Island News' core values and mission. Its well past the worst season and Im on the Mexican Gulf coast at the moment. In short, if anyone is telling you beaches in Key West, the Keys or on the east coast of Florida are fine; just a normal summer you ought ask them if theyve been outside recently. Latest Cancun coast seaweed map, January 16, 2023 (Source: FB Red de Monitoreo del Sargazo de Quintana Roo, As of January 2023, all Cancun and other beaches in Mexican Caribbean are free of seaweed. It also has activists concerned about the plight of endangered turtles, with some dying at sea entangled in seaweed or unable to lay their eggs given the mat of algae covering the sand. Yet another problem, says the UNAM specialist, is the poor disposal of sargassum, which ends up becoming a pollutant. MTO FRANCE : 30/01/2023 Prvision dchouements dalgues sargasses, 28/01/2023 Sargassum seaweed Satellite views, MTO FRANCE : 26/01/2023 Prvision dchouements dalgues sargasses, Mexico : 2023 un ao con mucho sargazo para el Caribe Mexicano, MTO FRANCE : 23/01/2023 Bulletin de prvision dchouements de sargasses plagiques, 21/01/2023 Sargassum seaweed Satellite views, Mexico : Sol, mary sargazo: cmo la energa puede rescatar al paraso mexicano, MTO FRANCE Antilles Francaises : 16/01/2023 Bulletin de prvision dchouements de sargasses plagiques, 14/01/2023 Sargassum seaweed Satellite views, ANTILLES FRANCAISES : 09/01/2023 BULLETIN DE PREVISION DECHOUEMENT DES SARGASSES PELAGIQUES, Mexico & Florida: Growth rates of pelagic Sargassum species in the Mexican Caribbean, 06/01/2023 Sargassum seaweed Satellite views, ANTILLES FRANCAISES : 02/01/2023 BULLETIN DE PREVISION DECHOUEMENT DES SARGASSES PELAGIQUES, 01/01/2023 Sargassum seaweed Satellite views. Its affecting coastal ecosystems, sea grasses, coral reefs, theyre all being affected by this huge excessive amount of Sargassum.. The project would divert sargassum back into the channel and minimize the sargassum beachings. Although sargassum serves as a healthy ecosystem for marine species in the Sargasso Sea, its emigration towards the Caribbeandue to rising ocean temperatures and changes in . But, what we have now is not the Sargasso Sea variety with which we are familiar. There is seaweed everywhere, that's just how things are unless you're staying at a resort where the house elves rake it all up for you while you're sleeping. */, Travelinglifestyle.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Copyright 2022 Traveling Lifestyle Network, LLC. Barbados has been especially hit hard since flying fish make up 60% of the island's annual landed catch, according to the University of the West Indies. Browse forums All Caribbean forums Bahamas forum Watch this Topic Get answers to your questions about Bahamas Ask a question Bahamas All Inclusive/Adult Only/Smaller Resorts 3 replies The brown-gold plant sloshes up on the sand in thick, gloopy waves so dense that, from the air, it looks like soil. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. Welcome to Sargasso Tracker. Communiqu de Presse tlchargeable (format PDF) en Franais. , Mexico receive premium positions and links to their websites and social media by the end of,... Caribbean and more that share the Key West folks seem to get a certain pleasure cheering. A look at this web site is how poorly they dispose of it and is Key... Reached the north coast of Barbados on July 31, sargassum lined the beach at the moment media! 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