Sargassum Seaweed declared a Natural Disaster
The Tobago House of Assembly has declared the invasion of the Sargassum Seaweed that of a natural disaster.
What is sargassum Seaweed?
Pelagic sargassum is a brown alga, or seaweed that floats free in the ocean and never attaches to the ocean floor. These free-floating forms are only found in the Atlantic Ocean. Sargassum provides refuge for migratory species and essential habitat for some 120 species of fish and more than 120 species of invertebrates. It’s an important nursery habitat that provides shelter and food for endangered species such as sea turtles and for commercially important species of fish such as tunas. There are two species of sargassum involved in the sargassum influx: Sargassum natans and Sargassum fluitans.
At this time the Tobago House of Assembly is in the process of addressing the issue of the Sargassum Seaweed affecting the shores of the island of Tobago. A site for disposal has been identified as well as a total of 3 million dollars in relief efforts for the Speyside Community.
A committee has also been formed to tackle the situation of the Sargussum Seaweed on the island , this committee is headed by Chief Administrator Mr. Raye Sandy.
