Sargassum alert. For many years now, scientists have observed a gigantic mass called the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt that stretches for 8,000 kilometers, twice the width of the United States, normally located between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic.
Rotten egg and respiratory problems
However, as CNN explains, this belt, tossed by currents, should gradually move closer to the Caribbean and Florida coasts. If the algae is already visible on Florida beaches, Dr. Brian Lapointe, a researcher at Florida Atlantic University, estimates that the US state will face a veritable sargassum flood by July. Between December and January, the Sargassum belt has doubled in size.
When in the sea, marine algae provide protection and food for fish and seabirds and can serve as a refuge for a very diverse fauna, including the endangered loggerhead turtle. When killed, the algae can degrade water quality and endanger fragile ecosystems.
It is when the sargassum reaches the mainland that things get difficult. In addition to the mounds that form and their massive presence on the beaches that are a major obstacle to local tourism, when they decompose they release hydrogen sulfide, a gas that smells like rotten eggs and that causes headaches and sometimes vomiting.
Furthermore, this gas can cause serious respiratory problems and even contains arsenic, making it even more dangerous if consumed or used as fertilizer. In the Caribbean, it is not uncommon for schools or homes located along infected beaches to be evacuated.
the entire affected area
Florida is not the only area affected. In recent days, sargassum has returned en masse to the coast of Guadeloupe, prompting the state to “rapidly experiment” with solutions.
“We are going to try to move very quickly in the establishment of diverted dams,” said the region’s prefect, Xavier Lefort, on Friday before the press, after an emergency meeting with the actors involved.
In March 2022, a “Sargassum II” plan was announced, endowed with 36 million euros over four years. “The credits are available”, assured the prefect, specifying that “if we have to put more, we will put more”.
In the Atlantic, according to the regional surveillance bulletin, the amount of visible sargassum is 204% higher than last year.
Source: BFM TV
