By Mariana C. León Pérez, PhD
S
ince 2011, massive quantities of Sargassum algae have been accumulating on shores throughout the Wider Caribbean Region, covering the crystal-clear waters with rotting seaweed. These unprecedented annual events have been detrimental to the natural environment and are threatening coastal communities and economies. Affected communities are responding to these historic influxes of Sargassum with a variety of mitigation measures, but face an unsettled and confusing regulatory and policy framework as they attempt to deal with this growing phenomenon.
What is Sargassum and where does it originate? Sargassum is a brown macroalga (seaweed). The two species found in Sargassum influxes in the Wider Caribbean Region are Sargassum fluitans and Sargassum natans. These species are pelagic, meaning that they spend their lives floating freely at or near the ocean surface. Pelagic Sargassum accumulates into dense mats that serve as important habitat for fish, sea turtles and other organisms, and are dispersed by ocean currents and wind.
Sargassum natans
Sargassum fluitans 1
JP Zegarra
Massive influxes of Pelagic Sargassum in the Wider Caribbean Region