Fresh approach to Sargassum seaweed needed
“There is need for ongoing work because we don’t know when the next influx of Sargassum is expected.”
This is coming from Amanda Charles, Sustainable Tourism Specialist at the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO). She called for continued partnership with our science-based institutions to come up with an original approach to mitigate and manage Sargassum moving forward. The specialist insisted that it is important because the Caribbean is the most dependent region in the world, and tourism is the single largest sector in terms of contribution to GDP and employment.
Charles was speaking at a workshop entitled ‘The Role of Research Partnerships in Promoting Sustainable Development’, hosted by the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES) with the University of the West Indies (UWI) Principal’s Office and the Japan-based Association for Promotion of International Co-operation (APIC). The Specialist explained yesterday that there have been different theories for the sudden influx of Sargassum in 2015 such as global warming, pollution and disturbances in liquid boundaries, winds, storms and ecological disturbances.
According to her, “Tourism remains the flagship industry for most of the Caribbean and dependence is projected in the foreseeable future. The industry is vulnerable to external shocks, which negatively impact market performance and threaten market stability.
“The Sargassum disrupts the beauty of the beach and the water ‘quality’. Also, as it decomposes, the seaweed smells and turns black and brittle. The continued influx makes sunbathing and beach combing unpleasant because swimming becomes difficult and risky. There was the perception that seaweed was hazardous to health and there was revenue loss and disruption in business for fishermen and marine-based tour operators.
“Some of the tourism sector impact is that due to the stench of rotting seaweed areas with extensive Sargassum coverage were avoided. Islands reported a drop in arrivals during the periods of influx with some vacation cancellations... Property values diminished and investment prospects due to the smell and appearance of the beach... Some staff layoffs and reduced economic gain for the sector and host communities.”
She added, “Barbados reported decreasing flying fish catch sizes during the Sargassum events of 2011 and 2014-2015. In the non-Sargassum event year of 2013, Barbados reported a seven per cent increase in the flying fish catch from the previous year. Impact on fisheries sector which can create shortages in the culinary sector as demand from hotels and restaurants may exceed supply. Excess Sargassum makes beaches unbearable for local vendors and recreational services are hampered.”
Furthermore, at the time, there have been alleviation strategies such as beach clean-ups. In Antigua and Barbuda, some hoteliers took advantage of the nutrition makeup of the Sargassum and began using it for various sustainable purposes such as fertilisers. In Barbados and Jamaica, there was the utilisation of horses to pull seaweed traps on the beaches and there have been regional initiatives such as education awareness campaigns targeted to tourists and the general public, publications.
However, Charles highlighted that because of the educational awareness programmes, the Sargassum did not have a lasting effect for Tourism as the number of arrivals in 2016 and 2017 increased. She indicated, “We got the message out there that Sargassum was not hazardous and different bodies in the Caribbean worked together to squash fears and educate persons about what really is Sargassum and this was done through the assistance of the scientists.”
She quoted Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of the UWI, when he stated, “We have a Tourism brand and product which is built around the beauty of our marine ecologies and our beaches. The Sargassum phenomenon is the single biggest threat to Caribbean Tourism, and a threat to our regional economy.” (NB)