event is happening regionally and to help predict future occurrences, said Franks Update on Sargassum Seaweed Affecting Mexico's Beaches Scientists believe elevated nutrient levels from rivers and storm runoff are acting like fertilizer for the sargassum, boosting their growth. These events can cause significant economic, Keep looking, ask around, or check local web-cams,such as these in the BVIs, to get a first-hand account. Atlantic OceanWatch Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The methodology to compute these fields is under development and, therefore, these fields are experimental and to be used as a reference and for research purposes only.Have you recently seen Sargassum and taken a picture? For one thing, he confirmed that no one really, definitively knows why theres so much more sargassum these days. Its been years since the first massive sargassum arrival, [but] we still dont have one single authorized landfill, the researcher says. of relatively persistent ocean currents, Johnson said. Entrepreneurs are also trying to turn Sargassum into useful products, such as bricks, fertilizers, and food additives. Thats not quite right. I would expect public officials have plans to try and keep some beaches clean, especially those that are heavily reliant on tourism. . Support The World's nuanced international coverage. Posted: Mar 25, 2023 1:00 AM PDT | Last Updated: March 28 A man. But in 2011, something changed and the amount of Sargassum exploded. But there are some hypotheses, some of which are more plausible than others., One viable hypothesis is that, in 2010, there was an ocean current much stronger than usual. Best advice to finding an idlyllic Caribbean beach, sargassum-free? Those numbers look very lucrative to investors, and Ak calculates that the conversion from LP to biogas could pay back in as little as two years. In March, satellite data detected 13 million tons of Sargassum in the belt, a monthly record, according to data from the University of South Florida, and April saw similarly large amounts of the algae. But theres a flip side: Sargassum is an essential component of marine ecosystems in the open ocean, and it may even help fight climate change. (And no matter how our work is funded, we have strict guidelines on editorial independence.) But she is also cautious and warns that much more research is needed to fully understand the impacts and dangers of processing and storing sargassum as well as manufacturing it into a range of products. If youre playing the odds, though. Mar. We believe thats an important part of building a more equal society. Published 3:14 PM EDT, Mon May 1, 2023 Link Copied! Nopal is slightly better with 64-72% of methane, he notes. The problem is when it gets to the beach. the neighborhood (50 km) of each coastal pixel and, computing the difference between those values Yeah, were living a new (and definitely not improved) normal now. It is exciting for us to work in partnership in the region on this challenge, and to bring our expertise in agronomy, value chain analysis, and commercialisation. Fertilization by sewage flowing into the sea could also contribute. A 2021 paper reporting health problems experienced by 154 patients in the Caribbean in 2018 described a range of . We even once successfully attacked the somewhere in between clog with our dinghy blow-up pump. Using as core inputs the AFAI (Alternative Floating Algae . Gage Bonner, a postdoctoral associate and member of the Nonlinear Dynamics Laboratory, is working out statistical problems related to forecasting the arrival of sargassum at coastlines. It is illogical in an environmental crisis like this to delay permits and laws, researcher Rodrguez Martnez admits. Pelagic Sargassum is a floating marine macroalgae that occurs in the North Atlantic Ocean. In an aerial view, boats pass through sargassum floating on the surface of the ocean on May 18, 2023 in Marathon, Florida. For the last few months, the talk has been all about Sargassum, also referred to as the seaweed blob, the floating algae that's washed ashore in places such as the Florida . Entrepreneurs are far more concerned about the persistent bureaucratic hurdles, especially those enforced by an entity called Cofepris, the Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks, a Mexican equivalent of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The maps show sargassum abundance for March (top) and April of 2023. by island authorities. No one can 100% predict where and to what degree sargassum might impact a beachfront. This spring, scientists at the University of South Florida College of Marine Science spotted a big yellowish-brown seaweed belt drifting from the Atlantic Ocean toward the Gulf of Mexico; they estimated its weight at 13 million tons, a record density for March. Ensol is also experimenting with 3D printing using sargassum-based products something Romero Morales has tried but isnt convinced about: We created and patented a cellulose packaging container made of sargassum, he notes. These increased winds have been pushing more sargassum into the West Indies. Required fields are marked *. Posted April 4, 2023 12:59 pm 2:20 Florida, Mexico and Caribbean brace for incoming 8,000-km-wide seaweed blanket An over 8,000-kilometre-wide brown glob of seaweed, known as the Great Atlantic. In some respects, the study is akin to storm forecasting, Olascoaga pointed out. Researchers expect this year will bring another . Just a few steps away, Maria Josefina Olascoaga, a professor of ocean sciences, recorded all the action with a high-definition camcorder, jotting down the speed of the brown macroalgae after it traversed the length of the tank. Yet this region boasts a tremendous diversity of life, from young fish and crabs to turtles and seabirds, some of which are found nowhere else on Earth. Make your tax-deductible gift today to support The Worlds independent, human-centered journalism. Miami, FL 33149, USA It's especially important to think about in 2023. The municipalities of Tulum and Playa del Carmen find it expensive to pay for diesel to transport the sargassum to our plant, he reports. Sargassum seaweed clears away but could still create problems for south Of course, sargassum has its benefits. Heave-to, stop the boat, and cast or use a jigging lure. marine fisheries scientist Dr. Hazel Oxenford, a faculty member in the UWI Center A few miles from Half Moon Bay, another beach on the island of Antigua was sargassum-free last month. Sargassum is on track to turn the regions inviting turquoise waters into an uninviting muddy green. A lock In 2022, more than 30 million visitors arrived at its airport; the majority headed to nearby beaches between the island of Holbox to the north and Mahahual, a diving hotspot to the south. Joaquin.Trinanes@noaa.gov, Gustavo Goni Outlook of 2022 Sargassum blooms in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico* increases the amount of nutrient-rich sediment. The CRFM-Plant & Food Research collaboration will identify and use appropriate sustainable technologies for efficient harvesting of Sargassum, according to international best practices. Guigand has attached strings from mops to the bottom of each drifter to ensure they stay entangled in the sargassum. But from 2011 onward, quantities grew exponentially and the algae season extended longer. But on a gorgeous day in late May, it was completely empty. Now, its just a waiting game. Read More about the song, download the lyrics, music sheet, and alternate versions. Satellite imagery taken this week shows the sargassum seaweed having mostly disappeared from the eastern Atlantic, along with the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Changes in wind patterns, possibly linked to climate change, can strengthen or weaken this coldwater upwelling. Cleaning the strainers daily might also be a good preventative measure in sargassum infested waters. 140 7th Avenue S, MSL119 How to get to the British Virgin Islands? Outlook of 2023 Sargassum blooms in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico* This story is part of a group of stories called, The Supreme Court decides not to destroy democracy in the United States, A desert fungus that infects humans is spreading, Americas upper middle-class gets a reality check, Sign up for the I am supposed to travel to the Bahamas next week. 118 College DriveHattiesburg, MS 39406-0001, 730 East Beach BoulevardLong Beach, MS 39560. The final phase is outreach and supply chain development, which would entail the dissemination of a model to industry stakeholders and wider Caribbean. Caribbean Sargassum project to develop innovative products for climate resilience advances to new phase, Sargassum inundation defaces coastline of Saint Lucia fishing community, June 2022 (Photo via CRFM), Antigua and Barbuda Flag-Raising Ceremony to observe CARICOMs 50th Anniversary, 27 June 2023, Opening, CELAC Agriculture Ministers Meeting, Georgetown, Guyana, 27 June 2023, CARICOM News Time for Week Ending 23 June 2023, 31st Intersessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government. In Floridanow they are crying, and we have been crying for ages. As we improve the observational On many islands, locals like Henry have to cope with piles of the macroalgae on the sand and its stinky smell which sometimes leaves his restaurant totally empty. If youre on a bareboat charter, youll be much happier spending the few extra minutes to clear these yourself. We are very confident that we can work together with interested partners to develop viable products and generate jobs and income streams for our people from this natural resource (Sargassum) that has been inundating our waters and beaches over the past 12 years. It could also be transformed into biofuel for vehicles or to generate electricity, but not without further processing, which would remove sulphuric acid, which can damage electrical generators and motors. Concerted efforts are underway to find uses for the Sargassum once collected with some current level of success. Yes, an idyllic beachfront stay fulfills most everyones idea of a dream Caribbean escape. Grace Bay Beach, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos. Meet the sargassum belt, a 5,000-mile-long snake of seaweed circling Florida. Second, were not in the subscriptions business. How Frog and Toad became queer anti-capitalist cottagecore icons. The scientists discovered thatVibrio pathogens have a unique ability to "stick" to microplastics, and that these microbes might be adapting to plastic. ET Source: Teresa Wood/Coral.Org Along with floods, and earthquakes, sargassum seaweed is yet another natural phenomenon that's making headlines this year, after building up on Atlantic and Caribbean beaches. This is especially important, the authors added, considering that many other marine environments that remove carbon, including mangrove forests and seagrass beds, have been destroyed. A new U.S. National Science Foundation-supported study has uncovered how the interplay between Sargassum spp., plastic marine debris andVibrio bacteria creates the perfect "pathogen" storm, with implications for marine life and public health.. Vibrio bacteria are found in waters around the world and are the dominant marine cause of death in humans. Yet beached seaweed also harbors critters that provide food for shorebirds, and it can fertilize plants growing along the beach, helping reduce coastal erosion, David Die, a marine scientist at the University of Miami, told CNN. On the plus side, though, Prof Hu noted that sargassum levels decreased by 1520% in February. By filling out the survey below and uploading your pictures onto this NOAA/AOML Reporting Form, you can help scientists improve Sargassum monitoring and research. If you show up at a sullied one, simply drive on to the next. So much is coming that it can be detected by satellite images. sustaining the production of the bulletin. Oops. But he doubts this will even be necessary: Seasons are changing. The work of The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) marine research scientists While sargassum blobs are bothersome, they also foster marine life. With few exceptions, the abundance of Sargassum in this region which became known as the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt has been rising ever since. When the seaweed does come in, Giorgi said, they can call the environmental department to do the cleaning, but they take care of it themselves. The authors of this bulletin, as well as USF and NASA, take no responsibility for improper use or interpretation of the bulletin. But there could be a problem lurking on. Rosie Paterson-Lima, International Development Program Manager at Plant & Food Research, said her organisations involvement was made possible by funding from the New Zealand Government International Development Cooperation Programme. These tips, however, might help: Check the lines more frequently than you otherwise would, Dont put the lures too far back, so its easier to reel in and check, Skip the diving lures: when they grab sargassum, the resistance can make it really difficult, and time consuming to reel in and clear. And thats where ASIST is helping us.. In the ocean, sargassum is an important nutrient for fish, but when it gets to the beach it decomposes, attracts bacteria and produces a bad smell. This smelly scourge of the sea has been on the rise in recent years BIG TIME. The expanse of Sargassum here has been compared to a rainforest because it provides shelter and food for a variety of animals. There are already reports of many popular vacation destinations such as the British Virgin Islands, Bahamas, and Florida Keys, experiencing waves of the stuff washing up on beaches since the beginning of the year. These bargain-priced, crowd-free months, though, are also when the sargassum scourge is at its worst. If you also believe that everyone deserves access to trusted high-quality information, will you make a gift to Vox today? Reader support helps keep our explainers free for all. Put even more simply: hes an expert in all things sargassum. Caribbean and beyond. the Caribbean Sea. Avery Henry, the owner of Beach Bum Bar and Grill on Half Moon Bay, said tourists get here and turn around after they see the sargassum covering the sand. It can, however, be worth recognizing that this giant bloom is not some evil, uncontrollable force threatening to destroy our vacations. Heres how to see the latest sargassum map: Try Animate to see how the sargassum is progressing over time. If you have sargassum concerns, call them. Measurements taken in recent months fuel the gloomy forecast. Unfortunately, theres not much you can do if you plan to troll a couple lines in between anchorages. Its coming. The results were promising, he recalls, though there were challenges to resolve. Our focus now is on developing and testing these prototype products and processes using the Sargassum. In the Caribbean, though, sargassum is nothing new. A team from the CRFM Secretariat and Plant & Food Research recently visited Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados to meet with key stakeholders as they advance the second phase of the project titled,Developing Sargassum Products for Climate Resilience in the Caribbean. Ad Feedback . Light, nutrients, temperature, Hu said. The thick dead tangled heaps of seaweed stink like rotten eggs and could cost many millions in holiday revenues this summer. or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. One sargassum business pioneer is Miguel Ak, a 73-year-old electrical engineer from Central Mexico. We have proposed to divide the cost, but they didnt agree.. Avery Henry, the owner of Beach Bum Bar and Grill on Half Moon Bay, was dealing with an empty restaurant as sargassum filled the sand. Outlook of 2022 Sargassum blooms in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico* January 31st, 2022, by University of South Florida Optical Oceanography Lab (huc@usf.edu, szhang26@usf.edu) . All in all, the Caribbean countries should recognise and appreciate what their youth are doing and support their efforts as part of a campaign to manage the critical issue of climate change. Outlook of 2022 Sargassum blooms in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico* April 30th, 2022, by University of South Florida Optical Oceanography Lab (huc@usf.edu, szhang26@usf.edu) The maps below show Sargassum abundance, with warm colors representing high abundance. The freshwater supply on the entire Yucatn Peninsula depends on limestone bedrock honeycombed with water-filled caves and underground rivers surfacing in the famous cenotes popular with tourists. Milton Haughton, Executive Director of the CRFM said:Sargassum remains a major problem for our countries, coastal communities, and business enterprises, especially those in the fisheries and tourism sectors operating in the coastal and marine environment. It started with innovative beach cleansing devices and today includes a range of industrial facilities dedicated to processing the algae into biogas, biofertilizers, bricks, packaging and even products for the cosmetic industry. An enormous amount of fertilizer runoff and other chemicals enter rivers like the Amazon that flow into the Atlantic, where they can fuel algae blooms. Coral reefs, mangroves and beach nesting grounds are being overwhelmed. Using as core inputs the AFAI (Alternative Floating Algae Index) fields attributed to several things, among them: increasing sea water temperature, introduction Remain flexible. They came every summer, rendering a scant few beaches off limits. But cleaning offshore or on remains a bureaucratic nightmare: The [Marina de Mxico] officially is in charge of sargassum in the sea. of information exchange and workshop activities. According to Professors Hus data, sargassum levels in the Caribbean doubled each month between November 2022 and January 2023. In the last six years, the amount of seaweed in the belt doubled compared to the previous six years, according to the University of South Florida, which tracks the blooms. As the annual waves of algae worsened from 2011 onward, Quintana Roo and municipal officials, politicians, businesspeople, citizens, researchers and the Marina de Mxico.came together early to find solutions. He installed a plant a year ago near Puerto Morelos to make biofertilizers using sargassum as feedstock. Correction May 5, 2023. Ill be sailing in Antigua in May, and while Im not worried, we are getting prepared to deal with it. Decaying sargassum emits a distinctly disgusting smell akin to extremely rotten eggs. Half Moon Bay is probably the most famous beach in Antigua and Barbuda. Other advice? Mexicos environment ministry is planning to finish a draft of sargassum regulations by the end of 2024, he says, but that has to pass through a legislative process that can last several years. These experimental Sargassum Inundation Risk (SIR) fields Hu said there might be some pharmaceutical use for sargassum as well, but research is in development. biologist, and Dr. Donald Johnson, a physical oceanographer, are both Senior Research Our no-go periods, however, were always brief and thankfully confined to a few unlucky bays. Florida sargassum seaweed: Where's it going, when will it arrive? Half the world is at risk of dengue. Its usually not too big of a deal, but some years are worse than others. Since then, a green sargassum industry has grown up. The results are published in the journal Water Research. Sargassum is a nuisance when it washes ashore, and it can smother coral reefs and harm other coastal ecosystems. The Seaweed Blob Is Heading to a Beach Near You | WIRED Market realities also must be faced: Group Ensols biofertilizer, for example, has to find a niche in a highly competitive market where much cheaper alternatives such as phosphoric rock powder, liquid biofertilizers made from cow manure and charcoal soil amendments are more easily available. Business start-ups utilising sargassum seaweed have great potential to succeed in the marketplace and support economic development. Researchers at Florida Atlantic University and their collaborators sequenced the genomes of Vibrio cultivars isolated from eel larvae, plastic marine debris, Sargassum and seawater samples collected from the Caribbean and Sargasso seas. Flexible Mexican labor laws have been helpful in this regard: They allow companies to easily adjust their workforce according to production necessities. Our long overdue visit to the CFRD was very productive and has It stretches more than 5,000 miles from West Africa to the Caribbean. For example, Currently, little is known about the ecological relationship of, and their collaborators sequenced the genomes of, "Plastic is a new element thats been introduced into marine environments and has only been around for about 50 years," said Tracy Mincer, corresponding lead author and a biologist at FAU. (Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism Press Release)Sargassum seaweed influxes have been a bane to the Caribbean since 2011, but theCaribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism(CRFM) andPlant & Food Research(PFR), a New Zealand government-owned Crown Research Institute, are advancing a regional project aimed at turning Sargassum into innovative products that will create jobs and income as well as contribute to building the regions climate resilience and mitigating the negative impacts of Sargassum in the region. Like kelp and other seaweeds, Sargassum sucks up carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, as it grows. As of today, it's still a mystery, he said. Sargassum isnt new to the shores of Quintana Roo state in southeast Mexico. All Rights Reserved. The noxious weed is also expensive to collect and difficult to dispose of, becoming a financial burden and logistical challenge for authorities. Earlson Mathew Sonic Arts Studios, Dominica. The state also boasts perhaps the most famous and visited Caribbean beach destination: Cancun. By Robert C. Jones First, advertising dollars go up and down with the economy. used in tracking the movements of the Sargassum at sea and determining when it will arrive in various regions. Nobody is certain about what brought sargassum to the Caribbean 12 years ago, according to Chuanmin Hu, an oceanography professor at the University of South Florida. I was a little scared, because I know the worst is yet to come in the summer, he said. The giant sargassum blobs piling up on the Florida coast might harbor flesh-eating bacteria. Professor Hus answer was about what youd expect. NOAA/Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory Sargassum years, what is unusual is the large increasing rate from December to January, suggesting PDF Outlook of 2022 Sargassum blooms in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Vibrio bacteria are found in waters around the world and are the dominant marine cause of death in humans. The World is a public radio program that crosses borders and time zones to bring home the stories that matter. Stick with 2-3 and youll have more of an enjoyable time. of nutrients into the region stimulating algae growth, and changing ocean currents. The Official CARICOM Song, Michele Henderson Delsol Singer/Songwriter Massive bloom of seaweed in tropical Atlantic raises the risk for For Mexico, this years sargassum surge poses an especially urgent and vexing economic crisis. Hes also the type of cool and accommodating professor youd want as an instructor, especially if youre a science-challenged rube like me.