Rotting Sargassum sediments are suffocating the white sand beaches of the Caribbean, exacerbating an economic and health crisis

The Caribbean sandy beaches, clear turquoise waters and colourful coral reefs with a tremendous number of marine life have long been the pride of the islands.

The big three – sun, sea and sand – have created this tropical paradise the region most depending on tourism on this planet.

But now all that is in peril. The explosive growth of a Type of algae called Sargassum is wreaking havoc on the economy, coastal environment and human health on all islands.

I study the interface of Critical infrastructure and disastersparticularly within the Caribbean. The Sargassum invasion has worsened because it broke out within the region in 2011. Forecasts and the algae which have already washed up suggest that by 2024 one other alarming 12 months.

The Sargasso Sea

The Sargasso Sea is also known as golden floating rainforest for its huge floating Sargassum flowers and the good diversity of marine life that it supports.

It is the one Sea of ​​the world without land bordersInstead, it’s bordered by 4 currents of the Atlantic Ocean: the North Atlantic Current, the Gulf Stream, the North Atlantic Equatorial Current and the Canary Current.

Without human intervention and under normal conditions, Sargassum is an excellent thing. It has existed within the Caribbean for hundreds of years, providing habitat and food for marine animals, including threatened and endangered species reminiscent of the Porbeagle sharks and that Anguillid eel.

However, conditions over the past decade across the Caribbean, the North Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico were anything but normal.

Since 2011Huge mats of Sargassum seaweed were washed up on Caribbean islands. On land they pile up right into a dead, stinking mass.

These Sargassum events were occurring more ceaselessly and last more, and the Algae quantity is increasing.

The situation has grow to be so bad that NOAA has weekly Sargassum flood risk index in collaboration with the University of South Florida. They predicted that 2024 one other terrible 12 months for the Caribbean.

Environmental pollution promotes dangerous algal blooms

So what causes the explosive growth of those algae? Studies have identified environmental pollution to which the Caribbean region itself has contributed little.

Humans alter the nutrient cycle by releasing Fertilizer runoff and industrial wastewater in rivers that send Phosphates and nitrates in river systems and into the oceans. These are essential nutrients for plant growth.

A rapid increase in livestock farming, forestry and agriculture along the Amazon in South America is a source that gives huge amounts of nutrients washed into the riverwhich ends within the Caribbean Sea.

Another perpetrator is the Mississippi River, which carries nutrient-rich wastewater from farms and industrial plants. into the Gulf of Mexico.

The Congo River in Africa also leads Pollutants within the sea because of deforestationand burning forests can release nutrients reminiscent of nitrogen, phosphorus and iron, which promote algae growth.

These pollutants are swept away by ocean currentsIt is believed that a rise in phosphate and nitrogen pollution combined with warming seas has led to increased algae growth, which is generally carried by currents from the Sargasso Sea and created the Sargassum Beltwhich continues to today throughout the Caribbean.

Coasts and fishing industries cannot escape the damage

In small quantities, Sargassum plays a task in Beach replenishment. But when it floods the coasts, the ocean grass rots suffocates beaches And reduces the oxygen content within the waterwhich results in the death of fish and damage to sensitive coral reefs.

The massive influx of Sargassum has also disrupted fishing operations. Fishermen are struggling to make a living as Sargassum Reducing their catchesThe seaweed has damaged fishing equipment and boat engines and restricted access to ports and moorings.

In addition, Sargassum Arsenic concentratewhich creates a risk of contamination of the fish and harm to the individuals who eat it.

Sargassum on land poses a threat to public health

Sargassum rots quickly when stranded. Within 48 hours it begins decompose, releasing hydrogen sulphide and ammoniaAt certain concentrations, these gases will not be only toxic to the marine environment but in addition to human health.

There is a growing variety of reported cases of neurological, digestive and respiratory diseases in reference to the pollutants emitted. Guadeloupe's air quality monitoring institute Gwad'Air has red alarms issued in recent times because of dangerous levels of hydrogen sulfide emitted from rotting Sargassum.

The most Common symptoms People living near Sargassum suffer from headaches, dizziness, stomach aches, coughs, skin rashes, eye disorders and mood swings. Sargassum odors have led to a rise in nausea and headaches in School-age childrenPregnant women within the region are also affected, with increasing reported cases of preeclampsia.

Sargassum has also clogged Water inlet pipes for desalination plants and power plants that Seawater for coolingwhich results in the shutdown of those units.

In the British Virgin Islands, the intrusion of Sargassum into the most important desalination plant in 2023 led to smelly tap water and sporadic water shut-offs. In Virgin Gorda And St. CroixPeople have reported smells, burning sensations and rashes from their tap water.

Sargassum blooms also damage the economy

Million tons from dead and rotting seaweed Washed-up goods can have far-reaching economic consequences.

The smell of rotting seaweed attracts insects, which is a repulsive for some touristsCleaning the beaches and disposing of tons of garbage, typically in landfills, cost the Caribbean about 120 million US dollars in 2018.

This doesn’t include the economic losses for hotels, fisheries and other businesses.

Small businesses like Jet Ski Rental whose sources of income rely on the coast needed to be closed temporarily since the rotting mass released foul-smelling gases.

Is there an answer?

Research and there are entrepreneurial initiatives which are attempting to cope with the seaweed. Companies have tried to in fertilizer, fodder And concretebut thus far only on a small scale.

Governments have made little progress, aside from agreeing to some Fisheries management rules to guard endangered speciesSome countries have Design of management strategieshowever the measures often concentrate on protecting the tourism industry, with little attention to fishermen and native communities.

The Sargassum invasion is fueled by global pollution, and a world response is required to handle it.

The United Nations Environmental Programme has called for increased international cooperation to know the causes and effects of Sargassum invasions and to search out ways to assist affected countries. But thus far the international community has done little to handle pollution at the basis of the issue.