Cayman Information Service studies on the unprecedented quantity of Sargassum within the Cayman Islands. For full article, hyperlinks, and video by Brian Phelps, see Cayman Information Service. Additionally see extra hyperlinks beneath. Many because of Peter Jordens for bringing this merchandise to our consideration.
An unprecedented quantity of Sargassum that invaded the North Sound on Saturday is presenting a major problem for the Cayman Islands because the nation tries to rebuild its tourism enterprise two and a half years after the COVID-19 pandemic closed its borders. Nonetheless, it’s also a serious environmental risk.
Workers from the Division of Setting and the premier’s Ministry of Sustainability and Local weather Resiliency might be assembly immediately (Monday) to debate choices to take away this dense brown seaweed, which floats on the floor of the water and is now posing a serious drawback that can possible be pricey to unravel.
The quantity of Sargassum in 2022 is blowing away the earlier file set in 2018. Scientists learning the good Atlantic Sargassum patch mentioned there’s roughly 24.2 million tonnes now floating throughout the Atlantic and the Caribbean. Alongside Grand Cayman’s North Coast, it’s not simply inflicting an unpleasant malodorous mess however is killing fish and every little thing else within the ocean below the dense mat of vegetation. Because it pushes inland, it’s now threatening the mangroves and fish nurseries.
In line with researchers from Florida Atlantic College, this yr’s bloom within the Atlantic is primarily brought on by the runoff of fertiliser and vitamins. Seasonal Sargassum is getting worse within the tropical Atlantic due to rising nitrogen and phosphorus from discharges within the Congo, Amazon and Mississippi rivers, atmospheric deposition from Saharan mud, and the burning of vegetation in Central and South Africa.
This has created apocalyptic scenes on coastlines across the area. Ths Sargassum has been washing up on Cayman’s shoreline for a number of months now, however the arrival of the large quantity within the North Sound this weekend has actually shocked individuals.
Troy Leacock, a neighborhood watersports operator and CITA vp who makes his dwelling on the North Sound, mentioned that the incursion of the Sargassum into the North Sound presents an excessive problem for Cayman as a result of it has nowhere to go as soon as it enters that physique of water, making a lethal carpet for sea life.
“After all that is horrible for tourism and a serious problem to these of us working boats within the North Sound, however it’s also a severe risk to the marine atmosphere, given the density of the inflow which occurred nearly in a single day,” Leacock mentioned. He added that due to the danger this poses to marine life, together with the mangroves, and the probability that the scenario will get even worse, there must be a long-term technique within the Cayman Islands to take away the Sargassum earlier than it reaches the land.
DoE Deputy Director Tim Austin defined that there are restricted choices for tackling the worst inflow of the pelagic Sargassum on file, however they hope to current numerous doable options at immediately’s assembly, all of which could possibly be costly. One concept is to put money into clean-up boats however that’s certainly not an inexpensive or simple answer, he famous.
Leacock believes that Cayman ought to make the funding, whatever the value, because the problem will possible be ongoing. “We can’t afford to permit any extra threats to our marine atmosphere with out making an attempt to take motion,” he advised CNS. “If the supply of the Sargassum bloom throughout the Atlantic is the runoff from the Amazon and different deltas, that isn’t going to vary anytime quickly, so we’ve got to anticipate this drawback is simply going to worsen.”
For full article, hyperlinks, and video by Brian Phelps, see https://caymannewsservice.com/2022/07/sargassum-latest-challenge-for-environment-and-tourism
USVI declares SoE on St Croix because of inflow of sargassum seaweed
Loop Information, July 25, 2022
https://caribbean.loopnews.com/content material/usvi-declares-soe-st-croix-due-influx-sargassum-seaweed
Pinel Island [Saint-Martin] closed because of Sargassum
The Day by day Herald, July 24, 2022
https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/pinel-island-closed-due-to-sargassum