Those who enter into the Caribbean are waiting for kilometers -sandy beach and Zeewing. But there are currently huge piles of smelly algae on the coasts of Puerto Rico to Guyana. The tourists flee – and apart from the nuisance of scents, the algae mountains are also quite dangerous …
According to current estimates, a total of 38 million tons is increasing as Sargassum or Golf Sticks on the Caribbean coast. An unpleasant record, because never before were so many of these algae in the Caribbean Sea, in the Western and Eastern Atlantic Ocean and in the Gulf of Mexico at the same time. And there should be more, writes the Oceanography Lab optical Oceanography in the University of South Florida in a current report.
Popular holiday destinations affected
The contamination on the western Atlantic coast is particularly strong for Guyana. Popular holiday destinations such as Barbados, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic are also affected by the algae pest, reports the Associated Press. Although the brown sea plants in the water have their advantages, they are increasingly becoming a problem in the country.
Because the rotting bunches not only spread a disturbing scent. Some of them produce toxic gases and become the deadfall for wild animals. And holidaymakers also take flight in view of the algae invasion. In a region that lives on one side of tourism, quite problematic. The fishermen in the Caribbean also suffer from the algaehops.
On the open more important habitat
On the open sea, the Sargassum algae are an important habitat for turtles and shrimp. However, they do great damage to the coast, because they can block the sunlight in the flatter water and thus inhibit the growth of coral reefs.
What exactly the explosive algae growth activates is to investigate scientists at the University of South Florida. You cannot say why the plague is particularly bad this year. Until now, the “algae belt” was limited to areas east of Florida, but the changed wind direction is increasingly spreading to the south. The water temperature and sea pollution can also play a role.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
