Madeira continues to be affected by sargassum washing up on the coast. In the image, a patch of this type of algae is visible in the sea in the Lido area.
Remember that the Region has been affected by this phenomenon since the end of last year, with the island of Porto Santo being the most affected, but there have been several reports of these algae reaching the Madeiran coast.
The problem has received the attention of official entities, and it is worth remembering that the Regional Government approved the creation of a multidisciplinary group to try to mitigate the effects of the occurrence of sargassum in the seas and beaches of Madeira and Porto Santo. The ‘task force’ will involve several regional departments, from Economy, Sea and Fisheries, Agriculture and Environment and Health.
Find out more about this seaweed .
I read your piece regarding the sargassum damage and wanted to introduce you to the start-up company, Seafields – a blue carbon project which will aim to remove 1Gt of carbon each year when fully operational using seaweed.
Would you like any additional comments from experts? Seafields’ Head Scientist, Franziska Elmer (who’s based in Mexico), has prepared a quote below for you should you be looking for any contributions:
Franziska Elmer, Head Scientist at Seafields, said:
“The recent sightings of large amounts of Sargassum in the Atlantic Ocean, washing up on our favourite Caribbean beaches already, are causing grief in communities across the world. For the Caribbean, this is the 6th consecutive year with massive amounts of Sargassum reaching its shores and negatively influencing people´s health, coastal ecosystems, tourism and fisheries. Pelagic Sargassum, comprising of 2 species of brown algae, serves as a crucial floating habitat, offering shelter and sustenance to a myriad of marine life forms. However, when this seaweed reaches our shores, it presents an array of challenges: from navigation obstacles, and marine organism mortality events to the emission of toxic hydrogen sulphide gas, beached sargassum becomes a nuisance to locals and tourists alike. With sargassum washing up with every wave, locals often find themselves wrestling with the seaweed every day, having to bury it or remove it in truckloads.
“With the recent news/satellite imagery showing massive amount of sargassum patches serve as a stark reminder of the urgency to finally do something about it. While these vast swathes are currently still distant from populated areas, they will reach the Caribbean soon and be causing havoc in no time.
“What if we told you sargassum had the potential to reverse climate change, through its ability to absorb carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere? At Seafields, we are committed to harnessing its potential for positive environmental impact. Our innovative approach involves deploying ‘catch and grow’ farms to prevent beaching, followed by large-scale aquafarming initiatives in the South Atlantic. By harvesting, processing, and sinking sargassum to the deep ocean floor, we aim to remove a staggering one billion metric tonnes of CO2 annually by 2032. This ambitious endeavour not only addresses climate change but also aids restoring our oceans and marine and coastal ecosystems, supporting the resilience of oceanic species.”
