It’s that time of the year when Sargassum reaches the coastline of Bonaire.
Recently, Sargassum was seen on the eastern coast of Bonaire. STINAPA was immediately alerted and jumped into action by setting up numerous sargassum booms to protect the mangroves. In fact, they used almost 3km of booms in various areas.
In recent years, many areas along the east coast have been hit hard with Sargassum, but one, in particular, is a popular tourist spot called Lac Bay. Lac Bay is enjoyed by many tourists and locals for windsurfing and relaxing in the sun. Although it is the normal time of year to see Sargassum, it doesn’t make accepting it any easier.
What is Sargassum?
Sargassum is a brown seaweed, a type of brown algae that typically floats in large masses in the ocean. While at sea, the mats can be miles wide and are a beneficial habitat to many species, providing food, refuge, and even breeding grounds. However, when a portion of the seaweed mats breaks off and travels to the Caribbean, it can cause damage when it ends up on our shorelines. When it reaches the shoreline, it starts to die off, depriving the fish of oxygen needed for survival and affecting the mangroves. It also releases toxic chemicals to marine life and produces a powerful sulfur smell, noticeable from miles away.
Did you know the mangrove’s roots also host many species from Bonaire’s reefs? Without oxygen, they will not survive. This is why it is vital to remove the Sargassum to protect Bonaire’s ecosystem.
How can I help?
In the past, STINAPA has called for volunteers to help remove the rotting Sargassum from the shorelines. The STINAPA Marine Park Rangers lead the effort and work alongside countless volunteers in the affected areas.
While STINAPA did post about their volunteer sargassum WhatsApp group, the WhatsApp group stayed silent. Yesterday, it was announced that STINAPA’s booms successfully directed much of the incoming Sargassum to specific extraction points. With heavy equipment, the Sargassum was successfully removed. This is great news for Bonaire!
Hopefully, the next influx of Sargassum will not be anytime soon. Currently, the Sargassum is under control and volunteers are not needed. If volunteers are needed in the coming weeks, STINAPA will let us know. Masha danki STINAPA for your outstanding work!
(Source: Bonaire Insider, STINAPA)
