Government Advised to Warn Residents Of Sargassum Inundated Beaches

Sargassum Sseaweed at Marguerita Bay captured on June 7th, 2018

Photo Credit: Veta Wade

As Montserrat continues to be assaulted by masses of seaweed, a marine expert is calling on the Government of Montserrat to publicly advise residents to stay clear of the beaches on the Eastern side of the island.

Captain Johnny Howes was speaking on the Breakfast Show Thursday morning, where he warned persons of the hazards associated with the Sargassum seaweed.

Sargassum is a brown seaweed, a type of algae that lives in the open ocean.

Meanwhile,

The Barbados government declared it national emergency on June 7.

Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler his Ministry had already authorised the spending of at least $1 million by the Ministry of the Environment for the purchase of equipment to combat the seaweed, which has made a number of the most popular East and South Coast beaches virtually unusable – and appears headed for the “gold coast” of St James and St Peter.

This money, he said, would be spent on Bobcat tractors and other equipments.