Call in the Navy!

[JEK]

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[amyb]

then what happens with it?

 

[bobrosen]

Seriously, this stuff MUST have some potential use! I mean, can they make fertilizer or something out of it? Mulch? Rabbit food? There's gotta be some enterprising biologist / engineer entrepreneur who can get rich on sargassum!

 

[cec1]

An AI response to my question about commercial usage of sargassum:

Sargassum is increasingly used for commercial purposes, transforming a beach-fouling nuisance into valuable, sustainable products. Key commercial uses include organic fertilizers and biostimulants, construction materials like "Sargablocks," biofuels, cosmetics, sustainable packaging, and livestock feed.
Key Commercial Applications of Sargassum:

• Agriculture (Fertilizer/Compost): It is rich in nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, making it an excellent base for organic fertilizers, soil amendment, and biostimulants that boost crop yields.
• Construction Material: It is being processed into bricks that are lighter and stronger than traditional materials.
• Biofuels and Energy: Due to its rapid growth and biomass, it is used for biogas and energy production.
• Cosmetics and Skincare: Its Algina content is being extracted for use in skincare products and natural emulsifiers.
• Packaging and Biodegradable Plastics: It is being used in the development of sustainable materials and bioplastics.
• Livestock Feed: Processed seaweed is used as a nutritional supplement in animal feed.

Key Challenges & Potential

• Logistics & Processing: Cleaning the seaweed of sand and removing contaminants (heavy metals) is necessary for many products.
• Industry Growth: Caribbean startups are actively turning it into a "problem-to-profit" industry, offering sustainable solutions for coastal regions.

These applications not only reduce the environmental impact of beach inundations but also foster a "blue economy" in affected Caribbean and North American regions.

 

[amyb]

I wish them well as they pursue good uses for this ever growing problem

 

[Beachcomber]

Seriously, this stuff MUST have some potential use! I mean, can they make fertilizer or something out of it? Mulch? Rabbit food? There's gotta be some enterprising biologist / engineer entrepreneur who can get rich on sargassum!

How do they get rid of trash on the Island now? Could it be burned to produce electricity?

 

[KevinS]

How do they get rid of trash on the Island now? Could it be burned to produce electricity?

SBH is very progressive on recycling. Still, there is waste to be disposed of. There is an incinerator which provides steam to help operate the desalinization plant. I don’t know if the incinerator has unused capacity, or if it is even possible to use it to dispose of sargassum.

 

[cec1]

SBH is very progressive on recycling. Still, there is waste to be disposed of. There is an incinerator which provides steam to help operate the desalinization plant. I don’t know if the incinerator has unused capacity, or if it is even possible to use it to dispose of sargassum.

AI says:

• Environmental and Health Risks: Sargassum collects arsenic and heavy metals from the ocean; burning it can release these toxic elements into the air, posing health hazards.
• Operational Challenges: Sargassum is wet and heavy. Burning it requires significant energy to dry it first, making it inefficient for standard waste incinerators.

 

[amyb]

AI says:

• Environmental and Health Risks: Sargassum collects arsenic and heavy metals from the ocean; burning it can release these toxic elements into the air, posing health hazards.
• Operational Challenges: Sargassum is wet and heavy. Burning it requires significant energy to dry it first, making it inefficient for standard waste incinerators.

Thanks Dennis. Quite a headache.

 

[shihadehs]

When we were on the island a few weeks back we were told they gather up the sargassum and put it on a barge and take it out to sea and dump it

 

[dadto6]

Yesterday Grand Cul de Sac had sargassum, but all accumulated at Le Guanahani side. This morning it is everywhere except end of Le Barthelemy by kids club. Not good for Ti'Corail restaurant...

 

[cec1]

When we were on the island a few weeks back we were told they gather up the sargassum and put it on a barge and take it out to sea and dump it

I’ve been told the same.

 

[NancySC]

When we were on the island a few weeks back we were told they gather up the sargassum and put it on a barge and take it out to sea and dump it

From our perch in Lurin, I could see the barge leaving for ? with the sargassum...slow boat to ?

 

[NancySC]

For our 25th anniversary, we spent a week at Maroma in the Riviera Maya, & every morning there were men from the resort raking the beach to rid the sargassum for the guests...far less floated in then. 48th anniversary next month but staying put in Bluffton SC.