Seeking Seaweed solution

A CONCERTED effort is under way to tackle the Sargassum seaweed problem in River Bay, St. Lucy, bringing much needed relief to the residents from the noxious fumes emanating from the invasive floating algae.

Yesterday, Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy Kirk Humphrey, along with Member of Parliament for St. Lucy, Peter Phillips, owner of the 12 acre site Andrew Bynoe, along with other stakeholders, visited the site where there is ongoing works to clear the putrid seaweed and allow for a natural flow of water.

The Minister lamented that this is the beginning of seaweed season and it is predicted that 2021 will rival the volume seen in the island in 2018.

He revealed that the Sargassum management plan of 2018 may have to be tweaked to address the build up that is usually managed by the National Conservation Commission, but which faced challenges with equipment. It is against this backdrop that he thanked Anderson Cherry of Jose y Jose for the equipment used to clear the tonnes of seaweed and other build up.

It was revealed that from next week, a monitor will be sent every day and persons skilled in moving seaweed will be deployed twice or three times weekly to remove the seaweed while it is “fresh”.

He explained that over time the seaweed turns into a solid and when depleted of oxygen with biomass trapped inside, it causes the foul odour which wafts miles away, posing headaches for residents.

The Minister told the media that the seaweed is taken to Farley Hill or Carrington’s where it is spread out and allowed to be dried. It is used by the NCC in their gardens or offered to farmers. “It is going to work. The unfortunate reality [is] sometimes you can clear tonight and [then] you can get a mat that is so large that it looks like nothing was done over a period of weeks.”

He assured that talks will continue with the BWA to address a problem affecting residents on the southern side of the river, which is being affected by a water main currently being put in place by the BWA, but which is causing the flow of the river to stagnate.

Owner of the property Andrew Bynoe lamented the turn of events, noting that he was in talks with the Minister to see the development of the popular St. Lucy site. He said that plans included a tourism-related project. “The intention was to dredge the two rivers and populate them with fish for sports fishing. We also had some accommodations on the lands around. COVID has put a halt to that. Government owns two acres and we would have been cooperating on this project.”

Bynoe also believes that a technical solution can be found to stop the seaweed from entering the mouth of River Bay during “seaweed season”. (JH)