In recent years, many Caribbean countries have experienced a staggering influx of sargassum, a type of nuisance seaweed emanating from the Sargasso Sea in the Atlantic Ocean. Beyond just its potent smell, sargassum seaweed is wreaking havoc on coastal ecosystems, fisheries and tourism infrastructure.
Sargassum seaweed - Barbados
Sargassum seaweed - Barbados
In this episode, Emily and Matt ask where it has come from, why it has become such a problem and what this means for climate change. They also discuss exciting new technologies from small island nations which, in a bid for a more sustainable future, could see sargassum recycled and redeployed across the globe.
We hear from Olivia Losbar, a Guadeloupean journalist working with affected communities, in “Island Voices”. Emma Tompkins, a global adaptation expert, joins us for our “Explainer”. In “The Big Picture”, we welcome Legena Henry – an engineer at the University of the West Indies who also runs a company called Rum and Sargassum Inc. – to discuss how local innovators are coping with the economic, social and scientific implications of the sargassum challenge. Finally, in “No Stupid Questions”, Matt and Emily ask why, if it just a seaweed, can we not simply ignore it and hope it goes away?
Featuring:
Emily Wilkinson (host) | RESI Director and Principal Research Fellow at ODI Global
Matthew Bishop (host) | RESI Director and Senior Lecturer at the University of Sheffield
Olivia Losbar | Journalist at Radio Caraïbe International (RCI) Guadeloupe
Emma Tompkins | Professor of Environment, Geography and Development at the University of Southampton
Legena Henry | Lecturer in Renewable Energy at the University of the West Indies and CEO of Rum and Sargassum Inc.
Resources:
Programme page | Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI)
Recording of Conference Opening | 2nd EU-Caribbean Gateway Conference on Sargassum
Olivia’s Guardian article | How sargassum causes chaos in the Caribbean
Emma’s university profile with links to her projects | Professor Emma Tompkins
CANARI Projects in the Caribbean | Sustainable Sargassum Management
Legena’s company | Rum and Sargassum Inc.
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