Studying Sargassum

If you were near the beach any time in 2018 there's a good chance you've encountered sargassum. The brown algae has been plaguing waters in Belize and the Caribbean for the better part of this decade, and according to the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism its presence in our waters reached an all time high last year. In order to figure out exactly how and why the sargassum is blossoming in the Caribbean, the CRFM has launched a fact-finding study with the intent of developing effective management strategies. Sargassum has detrimental effects on both the tourism and fisheries industries - two main money earners for most Caribbean countries. CRFM is set to begin regional consultations with key stakeholders in the coming weeks.