I have not seen anything posted about the seaweed issue here, but several locals said it has been going on for about 3 years. We saw it streaming in the water on the flight in, but MAN! Anegada Beach club was cleaning it up so the beach was good, but Loblolly today had it stacked up 3' high at the water line.

No smell on Anegada but some areas of Tortola it was rather strong.

Anyone know the cause?

d

we ran into it last summer. it was not there in Oct-Nov when we were there. Sidney's Peace and luv was THICK with it and swimming was out of the question.

5 day count down

So glad you brought this up. I have thought of composting this stuff to add to a future vegetable bed. Does anyone know if that would work?

About halfway down page http://www.gisbarbados.gov.bb/index.php?categoryid=13&p2_articleid=6479

Lots of seaweed throughout the Caribbean this year, much worse than previous years.

Dry it out and then spread it around its great
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Does it have to be rinsed in fresh water first before putting it in a garden?

Thanks for the information update - we've been down in Virgin Gorda for 20 years and this is the first time we've seen the build up on the Atlantic side beaches. cheers Brian

The smell on VG near the de-sal plant was pretty overwhelming a few weeks ago <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />

Sargassum has definitely been thick the last few years. If you talk to the old timers that will say it happens some years, but apparently not recently to the point that the 20 somethings haven't seen it.

This is the worst we have seen it - and we really didn't see it, we smelled it on VG on the stretch of road to the North Sound near the desalinization plant.
We went to Savannah daily and there was no seaweed.. We also sailed to Anegada and around the Dogs to Road Town, again - no seaweed. We did see clumps of it here and there but didn't give it a second thought.
Beside that strech on the North Sound Road, which is pretty offensive, I was unaware of the extent of the problem until I read it here.

According to many experts, Sargassum makes an excellent fertilizer. However, I would definitely want to wash it down thoroughly before using it in my garden.

It will be covered in salt which you know is not conducive to the good health of most plants that do not grow directly near the sea.

If you have somewhere to spread it, hose it down and let it dry, that would be my choice. I would also prefer to pop all the polyps (the little round things that make Sargassum float and which contains the noxious odor) before bringing it on my property.

Depending upon the quantities used, you could do this by stomping on it or using something like a front end loader bucket or bobcat bucket to squish it.

I'd mix it with about 60% top soil and 40% Sargassum ... then dig it in around the garden. You don't have to dig deeply, just enough to be certain it is covered and will break down well. It should make a really good loam.

I haven't tried it as I have no access to any large equipment and nowhere to spread it other than on my lawn and that would likely damage the grass.