Seaweed threat in Barbados

(Barbados Nation) Masses of sargassum, a brown seaweed that has been washing up on Barbados’ shores within recent weeks, could pose a threat to the vital tourism industry and sea creatures such as turtles.

Director of the Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU), Dr Leo Brewster, said yesterday there was a large quantity of the seaweed out in the ocean, and approaching islands of the eastern Caribbean, waiting to be dumped here in the coming months.

The beach at Barclays Park on the East coast, a popular picnic area, is covered in seaweed. (Barbados Nation photo)
The beach at Barclays Park on the East coast, a popular picnic area, is covered in seaweed. (Barbados Nation photo)

“There is a definite threat to tourism,” Brewster told a Press conference yesterday at the offices of the Disaster Emergency Management (DEM), Warrens, St Michael.

He said the algae could spell bad for the tourism product since this could prevent some tourists from wanting to go on some of the island’s beaches.