Thematic sheets

What is Sargassum seaweed? Since when does it exist? In 2018, around 20 million tonnes of Sargassum were spotted between the African and American continents. We are now speaking of a vegetal continent visible from space.

Where does Sargassum come from? Why does it proliferate? One of the scientific theories around the origin of Sargassum involves two rivers on either side of the Atlantic: the Amazon and the Congo rivers.

Like the Club Sentinelle of Port-Louis highschool, several organizations use satellite data to observe Sargassum flows on the Caribbean coast. How does this technology work? Who sets it up?

How to prevent Sargassum from reaching the coast? How to remove it once retained? Since 2011, Sargassum retention and collection solutions have been implemented throughout the Caribbean.

How to clean the beaches invaded by Sargassum? Who takes care of it? There are different solutions but they all have advantages and disadvantages. Whether it is with green brigades or larger machines, in certain cases the collection of algae is essential, but at what cost?

Where and how to store these massive quantities of Sargassum? How does it decompose? Several storage solutions exist but the increasing quantities of algae sometimes compromise their viability.

If Sargassum is surely an issue, the seaweed also has several properties that might be interesting to exploit. Over time, there are more and more prospects and new opportunities related to Sargassum.

Possible usages for this abundant and cumbersome raw material? Numerous scientists and entrepreneurs are looking into possible scenarios and working on Sargassum valorization solutions.

Many are working out ways to valorize the abundant raw material that is Sargassum. Plates, shoes, paper, bioplastics… Solutions are thriving all over the Caribbean.

What are the impacts of Sargassum on the Caribbean economy? They certainly pose a threat, but algae can also be integrated in the development of new green economies.

At sea or on land, does Sargassum really pollute? How to manage Sargassum while limiting the impact on the environment? The issues raised by the “Sargassum problem” are important, especially in the Caribbean arc where the biodiversity is exceptional.

When does Sargassum become a health hazard? Does it affect humans and animals in the same way? Scientific research is evolving and suggests potential solutions for the use of Sargassum in medicine.