Caribbean to see an increase in Sargassum seaweed

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Over the past few months, Sargassum seaweed has been increasingly present in the Caribbean region, and Antiguan Marine Ecologist Ruleo Camacho warns that this trend may continue.

In a report on the seaweed’s development over the first three months of the year, Camacho highlighted findings from the University of South Florida Optical Oceanography Lab, which tracks Sargassum blooms using satellite images.

According to their findings, the total amount of Sargassum continued to increase to about 9 million metric tons, representing the second-highest amount for February.

However, it has since decreased to around 6.5 million metric tons in March, which is unlike most previous years, possibly due to cloud cover in the Western Atlantic that could cause underestimation.

Despite the decline between February and March, similar to observations in 2018, a year that saw one of the worst Sargassum years on record, Camacho revealed that the total amount of Sargassum observed in March 2024 was above 75% of all previous Sargassum years.

This suggests that the presence of Sargassum in the Caribbean region is becoming more frequent and severe.

Camacho also emphasized that the Eastern Caribbean region will likely continue to be heavily impacted in the upcoming months, given the significant amount of Sargassum in the Eastern and Western Atlantic and its general westerly movement.

He urged stakeholders to stay vigilant as it relates to Sargassum and to consider mitigation practices that affect Sargassum in a non-destructive way for the surrounding environment.

Although solutions are being looked into, Camacho warned that Sargassum will continue to affect us all if we cannot collectively identify practices that reduce its negative impacts while still maintaining the quality of life for both humans and the environment.

He urged that we must do more to ensure this planet we call home is treated with the respect it deserves.

Sargassum seaweed has been present in the Caribbean Islands, including Antigua, Barbuda, and Redonda, since 2011.

Originating off the coast of South America, Sargassum blooms have affected the Caribbean Island chain with varying ecological and economic effects.

While Sargassum provides habitat for juvenile marine organisms and foraging areas at sea, it degrades upon reaching shorelines, leading to negative impacts.

Recent studies have also shown that degrading Sargassum may contain heavy metals, such as arsenic and cadmium, which can be toxic to humans and animals.