As a result of climate change and overfertilization, excessive amounts of brown algae ‘Sargassum’ reach Caribbean shores every year. A long term research of scientists shows that the amount of Sargassum increased tenfold in the last decade and forecasts indicate that the number will increase in the next years.

Offshore, Sargassum serves as an important natural habitat for sea dwellers. But when it hits the coastline, it has several negative consequences:

1) ‘Dead Zones’. Areas with poor oxygen levels in the ocean establish when bacteria decompose the algae. This has deadly consequences for marine and coastal wildlife.

2) ‘Fishermen suffering’. Local fishermen suffer as dead zones lead to low fish yields and excessive amounts of algae get tangled up in their nets and rotors.

3) ‘Tourism Decline‘. Ashore, the rotting algae emit sulphur dioxide. Non-lethal, but still harmful and unpleasant, the smell and look of algae is causing a sharp decline in toursim numbers. Because most Carribeans are working in the tourism sector, they are facing increasing losses each year.