Sargassum in Atlantic Ocean Concern

lczopur

SBH Member
Just heard about the giant Sargassum belt that is making its way past Florida and the Caribbean. We have a trip booked at the end of April (21st - May 1st) to SBH and was wondering if we should be concerned about it passing through at this time. Does anyone know if this will be an issue for the island? Thank you so much in advance for all the help!
 
Do not know when but this is a world wide issue of concern.

Not good for the oceans, not good for air quality,not a pretty sight.
 
Have to cut off the nutrients that enter the Ocean. Much of it happens in Central and South America. A large percentage from industry clear cutting forests. Then the rains come and wash the nitrogen from the soil that erodes into the Ocean. There is a project named Reforest the Tropics that plants fast growing trees that can be harvested in a more stable way.
 
Have to cut off the nutrients that enter the Ocean. Much of it happens in Central and South America. A large percentage from industry clear cutting forests. Then the rains come and wash the nitrogen from the soil that erodes into the Ocean. There is a project named Reforest the Tropics that plants fast growing trees that can be harvested in a more stable way.

Warming ocean temperature is also a factor.
 
Does anyone know if this will be an issue for the island? !
Sargassum has been an issue intermittently for the island for some time.
Usually impacting some coastlines of the island but not all. The COM is diligent in their efforts to gather up and haul off the weed though.
 
Sargassum has been an issue intermittently for the island for some time.
Usually impacting some coastlines of the island but not all. The COM is diligent in their efforts to gather up and haul off the weed though.

Yes, but this is not a sustainable solution as the sargussum becomes more and more prevalent and more times per year. It is a a depressing and difficult problem to solve.
 
Iczopur, I wouldn't panic yet. First it is too early to know where any of it will land. Threads of it are constantly moving around the Atlantic and where it stops nobody knows. Second, one nice feature of a small island like St Barth is that if the first beach you stop at has seaweed, you can drive to the other side of the island in a few minutes and try there. Because the sargassum rides the currents and winds, it would be unlikely for every beach to have a problem. Typically the north facing and east facing beaches get more seaweed than the west or south facing beaches, but there is a lot of randomness of who gets hit and when.
 
Nice map from 1891.

c0402688-800px-wm.jpg
 
Yes, but this is not a sustainable solution as the sargussum becomes more and more prevalent and more times per year. It is a a depressing and difficult problem to solve.

that's as may be, but it is what it is for the moment, n'est-ce pas ?
 
that's as may be, but it is what it is for the moment, n'est-ce pas ?

Of course, everything in the moment "is what it is" - but I'm worried about the future. The growth and changes in Sargassum over the past 10 years is alarming at best. When does it top out? Personne ne sait.
 
It has not been one Beach every day. It moves and my advice is to hop in the car and pick another beach for that day.

So many beaches, so little time.
 
Yes, words are wonderful tools for conveying meaning. We undoubtedly worry about different topics, but I’m certain the OP doesn’t need to worry about his or her trip at the end of April. It will be great larks :cool:
 
Saw sargassum just about everywhere, visible flying into SJU, & from our little ship the WS Pride last week tho didn't see any in the BVI. Do as Amy suggested, pick a beach, if you find sargassum, try another beach.
 
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