In the past weeks, the Directorate of Nature and Environment (DNM) has received numerous calls indicating massive mats of macro-algae entering the shores around Aruba.
The DNM observed a considerable amount of macro-algae near the “Santana di Cacho”, which means Dog Cemetery in our Island’s native language (located near the Baby Beach area) in San Nicolas and have since published announcements on their social media about the effects that beachgoers can experience while enjoying the beaches. There is collaboration between different Government organizations that address the issues caused by the flow of these macro-algae.
On the international level, the UNEP-CEPP (United Nations Environment Program- Caribbean Environment Programme,) of which the DNM is also a member, published a report to help organizations address the massive flows of macro-algae. One of the items mentioned in this report is the request to participate in a survey when macro-algae are present near the Caribbean islands.
The presence and stench on the beach caused by the macro-algae can negatively affect the beachgoers.
The DNM contacted AHATA and informed them about the situation, which AHATA can share with their members. The DOW is also aware of this situation and will do more frequent beach cleanups. Boat and coast fishers will also encounter this problem and should be mindful of the possible effects of these macro-algae on their fishing. The fishing lines will get heavier to pull when entangled with the macro-algae and can even break. Lots of macro-algae can also get stuck in the boats’ propellers and cause malfunction. It is remarkable that this is a pretty recent issue (2011) and that there is no policy in place to address this correctly.
It is essential to do more scientific research on the cause of this issue and the effects of the macro-algae invasion, to provide objective information.
What the community and our visitors can do is to contact the DNM on www.dnmaruba.org, when they see massive mats of macro-algae on other beaches. The DNM also encourages the community to take part in the communal scientific investigation by completing the survey on the platform The HUB – SARGASSUM INFORMATION HUB (sargassumhub.org).
The DNM requests from the community and our esteemed visitors their understanding of the unwanted invasion of the macro-algae on the beaches. We have provided some photos of the macro-algae invasion near the ‘Santana di Cacho’ in San Nicolas.
