The Trini Environmentalist

  What is Sargassum Seaweed? Sargassum, also called gulfweed or sea holly, is a type of large, brown seaweed that floats on the surface of the ocean. Unlike many other types of seaweed, it never attaches to the seafloor. This type of seaweed is very abundant in the Atlantic Ocean from January to May (the Dry Season). It almost looks like a moving island, due to the large mats the seaweed forms in the ocean. It is deposited along the coastlines of Trinidad and Tobago. Figure 1: showing Sargassum mats in a Bay in Trinidad and Tobago (TEMA 2022) Where does the Sargassum come from? Sargassum originates from two main sources, the Sargasso Sea, located in the Northern Atlantic Ocean, and the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt. The Atlantic Current is responsible for the movement of Sargassum and the deposits that are made along the West African Coast, the Eastern South American Coast, and throughout the Lesser Antilles. Figure 2: showing the circulation of Sargassum Seaweed in the Atlantic

Learning about the Gulf of Paria The Gulf of Paria is a body of water that bounds the west coast of Trinidad and Tobago and the east coast of Venezuela. It is approximately 7,800km 2 of shallow sea with a wide range of biodiversity. This sea in particular has a mixed diversity of the Caribbean and South American marine life. Rivers from South America such as the famous Amazon River and the Orinoco River drain into the Gulf of Paria. Locally, the Caroni River and the Oropuche River are the major rivers that drain into the Gulf of Paria. Figure 1: Showing the location of the Gulf of Paria (Stabroek News 2018) The diversity of marine life found in the Gulf of Paria makes it one of our main fishing hubs. The Gulf of Paria is home to more than 70 fish species and at least 5 shrimp species (IMA 2018) most of which are commercially fished. It supports more than 2500 fishers and fishing communities which makes sustainable fishing practices of utmost importance. We are responsible for preser