SARGASSUM - INTERNATIONAL RESCUE
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It's
on the move. Sargassum is no longer contained in the North Atlantic. How Sargassum has invaded the tropical Atlantic has been a mystery, but
a new study in progress, led by researchers at NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML), identifies possible mechanisms and pathways by which Sargassum entered and flourished in the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean.
Sargassum is a deadly invasive seaweed species that could migrate from one ocean to another. It has already spread from the North Atlantic, to the South Atlantic. If it spreads to the Indian ocean and Pacific ocean, we are in serious trouble. As they say, up shit creek without a paddle.
Why?
Because, as things stand in 2022, the powers that be have no tangible long-term strategy to deal with the effects of climate change, as it warms our oceans. Turning them into giant propagation tanks for seaweeds that grow quickly in hospitable conditions.
Yes, we are making the oceans into a nursery for plants that, when they are washed ashore, ruin beaches, local fishing enterprise and coastal tourism. Where many coastal regions rely on visitors to their shores to keep their economies buoyant. Such as Cancun in Quintana Roo, Mexico.
Instead of pristine beaches, the brown mass of macro algae quickly decomposes, releasing poisonous hydrogen sulphide, that stinks of rotten eggs, and can cause illness in humans. At the same time it stifles the local ecology. And beach cleaning efforts removes sand by the bucket load.
Million of $dollars have been spent in futile efforts to shovel some 24,000,000 million tons of the menace from the Caribbean Sea. But such efforts don't make a dent in the plague, that is turning into a regular pestilence of Biblical proportions.
AND
REMEMBER, THAT YOU VOTED FOR THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION As you drive down the road to your local supermarket in your petrol and diesel gas guzzlers, then on return, switch on your electric kettle powered by coal generating stations, or hear your gas central heating spark up, spare a thought for the polar bears and Caribbean Sea Islander's whose lives your are wrecking.
BANKERS & BROKERS - As you count your money aboard your luxury yacht, wave to all the islanders you have flooded, and hope to hell that your boat does not sink in these regions, lest they board your life raft.
Most obviously, they need harvesting machines large and smart enough, that run on renewable energy, capable of harvesting 24 million tons a year - at least. This would mean the equivalent of the SeaVax concept, custom converted to recover floating macro algae.
Examples of which are:
But that is not enough. There would also need to be floating factories, or land based operations to turn the pestilence, into products. Twenty-Four million tons of any agricultural product, takes a lot of processing.
As this is an international issue, the Cleaner Ocean Foundation are suggesting a 'Sargassum Consortium' would be needed, that need not be a major drain on finances - if such a group were to find the right developers, such as a not for profit concern, that could give fast development of a prototype machine, for evaluation purposes. And in tandem, formulate appropriate handling methods, and identify markets for what is a massive potential yield.
What would be counter productive is for each nation to develop their own method of dealing with the emergency, that may not mesh with the coordinated response that a Consortium might bring to the table. That is not to say that every contributor would not have a say, and may not contribute to development. Indeed, all contributions of knowledge and skills will be most welcome, should innovators wish to join a fast moving do-tank.
An operation on this scale, may buy the human race sufficient time to redress climate change.
SARGASSUM COOPERATIVE EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST:
The "Sargassum Cooperative CIC" is a proposed consortium of affected Governments, the aim of such group being to develop a cost-effective system for the sustainable, proactive removal and long-term management of pelagic Sargassum seaweed in the Mexican Gulf and Caribbean Sea - and specifically, for sharing the development and operational costs of specialized harvesting and handling equipment. Thus meeting the economic and environmental needs of these geographical regions, in relation to the present crisis, and future emergency situations, such as the spread to Africa, and potential to leach into the Indian and Pacific oceans, if this developing situation is not very carefully handled. Thus, including nations other than those bearing the immediate brunt.
A/any "Cooperative" would first need to assess the potential for cost saving by adding up the beneficiaries and dividing the "System CAPEX" by the number of islands and commercial beachfront properties, then dividing the estimated CAPEX by the number of participants, on a sliding scale, based on population and/or tourist statistics. This will give those looking at ways of containing overheads, a way to asses the benefits/negatives of group membership - and importantly, negotiate equitable terms.
Please contact the Cleaner Ocean Foundation with your interest.
FUNDING ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIC ACTION SARGASSUM WHITE PAPER - TURNING A CRISIS INTO AN OPPORTUNITY
FERTILIZERS - FOODS - MEDICINES - MINERALS - PACKAGING - SUPPLEMENTS - VITAMINS
THE G20 HEADS WHO HELPED SPAWN THE SARGASSUM PLAGUE IN 2019
MUSICAL CHAIRS - Many of this collection of world leaders, are now removed from office, but quite a few remain. This group did not do enough to combat global warming, so entrenched were they in fossil fuels, and oil revenues. We wonder how the electorate may respond in years to come, as the climate continues to warm. Ice caps keep melting, and sargassum begins to accumulate in ports all over the world. Then there are the forest fires and heat waves. Let's face it, it does not sound good!
LINKS & REFERENCE
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/sargassum
BLUE GROWTH | OCEANS | PLANET EARTH | TRANSPORT | UN
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This website is provided on a free basis as a public information service. copyright © Climate Change Trust 2022. Solar Studios, BN271RF, United Kingdom.
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