Sargassum algae flood threatens Caribbean: Tourism in danger!

Sargassum algae flood threatens Caribbean: Tourism in danger!

The Caribbean is facing an unprecedented challenge: record levels of sargassum algae, threatening beaches and the marine ecosystem. In May 2023, a shocking amount of around 38 million tons of this algae was detected. This is the highest value recorded since exploration of the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt (GASB) began in 2011. The previous record was around 22 million tonnes in June 2022, underlining the worrying trend.

Brian Barnes, an assistant professor at the University of South Florida, says annual peaks are increasing, but the exact reasons for this trend are not yet clear. It is believed that a combination of factors such as sunlight, nutrient availability, water temperature and changes in the climatic environment lead to this phenomenon.

Ecological and economic impacts

Sargassum algae release toxic gases and can endanger wildlife. In Martinique, the situation was so serious that a school had to temporarily close. These algae accumulations have far-reaching consequences for tourism as they heavily pollute beaches. Barriers have been erected in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, while excavators are being used for an emergency clean-up operation in St. Maarten.

In addition, some hotels are taking over the cleaning work and offering refunds or shuttles to less affected beaches. The negative impact on tourism is already being felt, and many experts suspect that this trend will continue throughout the year. Sargassum abundance usually increases in late spring, peaks in summer, and declines again in late fall or early winter.

Scientific findings on the Sargassum problem

Research on sargassum has increased in recent years. Several studies shed light on the reasons for their exponential growth. For example, studies by Djakouré et al. (2017) investigate the possible causes of recent outbreaks of pelagic Sargassum algae in the tropical North Atlantic. Another interesting aspect is presented by Jouanno et al. (2021), who present a NEMO-based modeling approach to the distribution of Sargassum in the tropical region.

Little information is clear, but the severity of the situation requires urgent attention from both the public and scientists. Some researchers such as Lapointe et al. (2021) analyze the nutrient content and availability of nitrogen, which is a crucial factor for the productivity of Sargassum algae. As the scientific discourse progresses, it remains uncertain whether the record numbers from May 2023 can be exceeded again in June.

For affected regions, this means that measures to combat algae blooms and reduce their impact on tourism are essential. Understanding the causes and mechanisms that lead to these massive algal blooms will be crucial to better respond to challenges in the future.

As the discussion about the causes and solutions to the Sargassum algae bloom continues, it is becoming clear that both bio-physical and human factors play a role in causing this natural phenomenon. These findings have been captured in numerous studies, including the work of Gower and King (2020) and Wang et al. (2018), who examine the role of satellite observations in monitoring Sargassum.

The sargassum issue will continue to be a key concern for the region and the global community. Developments in this area are therefore not only of scientific interest, but also have practical implications for the lives of people in the affected areas.

Further details can be found in the reports from RND and the analysis in Nature.