Government
DECR wants Research Results to guide management of Sargassum
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 31, 2023 – The scientific unit at the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources is collecting samples to see how best the TCI can benefit from the travelling seaweed also known as, Sargassum.
“Scientists from the DECR and UKs Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) collected sargassum samples for laboratory testing; the results of such testing will help guide the TCIG into developing safe
She was responding to questions posed by Magnetic Media regarding the Government’s plan for the 5000-mile-long mass of seaweed bloom heading for the Caribbean. Along with a draft policy, the Minister said other plans were in place.
“While we do not want large heaps of Sargassum decaying on our beaches, we must be strategic in our approach,” she maintained. “We are exploring our options to ensure our response is sustainable economically and environmentally. Ideally, we can turn this problem into an opportunity and there have been proposed solutions including use in fertilizers, animal feeds, cosmetics, or for biofuel.”
In addition, the DECR’s scientific unit is reviewing their environmental monitoring strategies to enable them to ‘more effectively observe the sargassum influx into the TCI. Through this, we can better guide our decision-making on where this influx is most problematic.’
Acknowledging both the pros and cons of the seaweed, Connolly maintained that they would balance the environmental needs of the country.
The bloom which happens every year has become significantly larger than it was prior to 2011 and this year’s mass was visible from space.