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It’s hard to describe the terrible smell of the rotting seaweed called sargassum that leaves a permeating bad smell on beaches in Grenada. The seaweed piles up in coves and turns from red to black as it decays.
People living in Caribbean coastal areas have been dealing with this problem for years. Scientists in Florida believe a weather event in 2009 started the issue. They say winds stirred up the ocean and brought nutrients to the surface, helping the seaweed grow.
Lindon Marast, a 30-year-old fisherman, told the UK’s Guardian newspaper that the seaweed gets stuck in his boat’s propeller. This stops him from moving through the water easily.
The Grenadian government now wants to turn the seaweed problem into something useful. Working with the European Union, they are looking for business partners to help build a new industry around sargassum.
Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell wants to collect 10,000 tons of sargassum by 2026.He’s encouraging businesses to propose new projects that use sargassum for energy, farming, and manufacturing.
Grenadians are also worried about health and property damage. The seaweed gives off gases like methane that may cause rashes, harm jewelry, and damage electronics and boats.
One way to prevent this kind of harm is to stop the weed from reaching the shoreline.
A UK company called Seafields has made a floating farm that collects the seaweed before it reaches the shore. This stops it from rotting and releasing gas. They say their method could save hotels and governments a lot of money and also create useful products like bioplastic.
Sargassum can also be used as a fuel and fertilizer. John Auckland, who runs Seafields, says it’s easier and cheaper to farm than other seaweed. It can boost crop growth by 10–14%. He believes the Caribbean could tap into a $200 billion market.
Some Grenadian hotels are already using sargassum to make energy. A company called SarGas built a biodigester that turns seaweed into gas and fertilizer. It powers the ovens at a bakery in the True Blue Bay Resort. SarGas now plans to build a larger plant to create electricity for the island, replacing costly diesel power.
Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell supports these efforts. He held a conference last year and created a taskforce to work with the EU. He hopes to collect 10,000 tons of sargassum by 2026. He also invited companies to submit ideas for using the seaweed.
Some local people already use the seaweed. Fisherman Mark Nedd says it often brings fish like mahi-mahi (a popular white fish with firm meat) with it. Farmers use it to improve their soil.
Tourism officials are also working hard to remove the weed. Kirl Grant-Hoschtialek from the Grenada Tourism Authority says workers clear beaches by hand to avoid damage to the beach ecosystem caused by heavy machinery.
She told the Guardian, “Our beaches are our pride and joy,” and they work hard to keep them clean.
Others continue to complain that you never really get used to the smell.
Sources: The Guardian, Reuters.
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