WILLEMSTAD - Over the past weekend, authorities from the Ministry of Health, Environment, and Nature (GMN) inspected the north coast of Curaçao following reports of stranded Sargassum seaweed. The coast guard has been monitoring both the threat of oil pollution in the sea and the arrival of Sargassum for some time.
The oil pollution originates from a situation involving a ship in the region of Trinidad and has reached the coast of Bonaire. Curaçao's coasts are closely monitored. A significant amount of Sargassum was observed this weekend at Boka Labadera and Bok'i Mangel, both on the north side of the island.
Sargassum is brown seaweed from the Sargasso Sea, a region in the Atlantic Ocean. This seaweed is unique because it lives freely floating on the water surface and is not attached to the seabed. Sargassum plays a crucial role in the marine ecosystem by serving as a habitat for various marine species, including fish, sea turtles, and various invertebrates.
However, when Sargassum washes ashore in large quantities, it can cause problems. The decomposition process of the stranded seaweed produces a strong, unpleasant odor and can be detrimental to tourism and the local economy. Moreover, the decomposition process can lead to oxygen-depleted conditions in the water, which is harmful to marine life in the vicinity.