We loved to go to the beach and practice some water activities.  But for the past years, our pleasure has been tarnished by the Sargassum algae that decomposes on the beaches, smelling like rotten eggs, transforming the blue waters in a brown soup and getting caught in lures, fins and propellers!

Some internet research made me realize that it is actually a way “Mother Nature”  is cleaning the oceans for us !

It grows faster because of hot water and fertilizers, it is composed of Carbon, Potassium, Fatty Acids, all things we want to remove from the oceans.*

At sea Sargassum algae provides important habitat to a wide range of species and when it dries inland, it stabilizes dunes, provides a safe habitat for wildlife and nutrients for the plants.

But when washed in large quantities, Sargassum seaweed is unable to dry thoroughly and it starts decomposing. Decomposition generates CO2 and hydrogen sulfide a gas that can cause a wide range of health effects. Decomposition is a threat for the environment, marine, coastal wildlife and for Tourism!

To reduce some of the effects of decomposition some beaches are bulldozed to mix the seaweeds with sand. Unfortunately, the result is that some decomposition still occurs, the shoreline is destabilized (increasing erosion) and smashed algae are released in the ocean by waves and high tides.

The consequences are the rotten egg smelly beaches and the dark brown soup surrounding them!

There are ways to pick up Sargassum: whether it is at sea or onshore. The quantities are enormous but there are many possible uses for them once  on land.

Sargassum can be used as fertilizers, (obviously it is made of fertilizer) but also can be transformed into alternative fuel.

Sargassum has plenty of fatty acids, it can be an excellent source to feed cows, chickens and other farm animals. It can also be food for us... as soon as a good recipe will be found!

Finally picking the Algae is the only solution to recover our beautiful beaches and blue waters!

So, yes, the quantities are huge... but so can be the benefits! 

We need to ask the Environmental Protection Agency (in charge of our beaches), States and Local Governments to PICK THE SARGASSUM UP !

* More on Sargassum Blum:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nNQjLhsdDg​

https://nereusprogram.org/works/the-sargassum-mass-bloom-of-2018/

** Sargassum removal on land:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEb1Yl9sFL4