Harnessing the Benefits Of Sargassum Seaweed
Sargassum seaweed is a type of brown seaweed that grows in the mid to subtropical parts of the world’s oceans. It forms large floating patches or mats, which can measure up to tens of meters long, and is hugely important for the global marine ecosystem. In recent years, an increasing number of countries have been exploring ways to sustainably use the algae for a range of commercial, ecological and medical purposes.
Researchers from the University of Florida’s Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants have developed a viable way to extract chemicals from the sargassum seaweed. Scientists isolated and identified compounds such as nodularin and Sargaquinoic acid, both of which have potential uses in the medical field, food industry, and for treatments of industrial wastewater. Additionally, universities around the world are investigating ways to dry, grind and process sargassum for commercial use in fertiliser, animal feed and soil conditioners.
Studies have also suggested that sargassum algae can be used to generate bioethanol. The potential to convert sargassum biomass into the fuel has been demonstrated in laboratory experiments, with researchers finding that the resulting ethanol yield was comparable to that of other cereal material-based bioethanol production.Compared to products derived from land-based plants, sargassum-based bio-products could be produced using non-arable land, making them more cost effective and sustainable.
In some countries, sargassum seaweed is now being harvested as a seafood source or processed as a functional food ingredient. Raw or processed sargassum can be consumed as a snack or added to salads, pastas, soups, fish or tofu dishes. It’s rich in proteins and essential amino acids, as well as vitamins and minerals.
The potential of the sargassum seaweed to help in oil spill cleanup has also been studied. According to research, the plant contains polysaccharide compounds that have the ability to absorb hydrocarbon oils. The seaweed can be harvested, dried and then heated to release the compounds. These compounds can help in the removal of oil spills and cleaning of the affected areas.
In 2017, researchers from the United States, Mexico and Colombia published a study which showed that sargassum seaweed could be used to produce biodegradable plastic. The researchers developed a low-cost method for turning sargassum into polypropylene-like bioplastics, which are often used in the packaging and manufacturing of consumer products. By replacing existing hydrocarbon-based polypropylene with bioplastic produced from the weed, companies could contribute to a decrease in single-use plastic waste.
Long-Term Research and Development
The global sargassum seaweed crisis highlights the urgent need for robust research and development strategies. There is a need for well-structured and long-term studies on the sustainable uses of the algae, to determine its potential benefits, the socioeconomic impacts in relevant geographic areas and the development of suitable extraction and production technologies.
Given the complex challenges surrounding the management of the increasing amounts of sargassum seaweed, collaboration is fundamental. A global alliance including reformers, innovators, researchers and financiers could help to capitalise on the plant’s potential and shape new ways of thinking about the seaweed in a broader, interdisciplinary and more holistic perspective.
In the Caribbean, some governments have already developed sargassum management plans that include harvesting, minimising the impacts of the seaweed, encouraging local communities to embrace the seaweed — either to consume it or process it into products — and using the seaweed to generate energy. These strategies are based on the assumption that the seaweed is a resource, and therefore, it should be approached with an attitude of reuse and waste minimisation rather than elimination.
Conversely, the study from the University of Florida suggests that, if handled properly, only certain patches of the weed should be harvested and removed, as sargassum also has an important ecological role, producing oxygen, sheltering organisms and acting as an essential component of the oceanic food chain.
Sargassum Harvesting Strategies
Given its potential range of uses and the serious environmental consequences of not managing the seaweed, it is vital to develop effective and sustainable sargassum harvesting strategies. In particular, there is a need to identify the strategies that have the lowest energy and financial costs, the least environmental impact and the highest practical efficiency.
An important challenge faced by local governments battling the sargassum accumulation is related to disposal and storage. If sargassum is being used to generate energy, it must be collected and stored in a safe and secure way that will provide the necessary material for production without causing additional problems.
Social acceptance is another key factor to consider. Studies have suggested that a lack of adequate information about the sargassum may be hindering the development of proper management plans. It will be important to provide local communities with relevant facts and data to create a better understanding of the benefits of seaweed harvesting and the socially responsible methods of doing so.
Another challenge is related to the logistics of sargassum harvesting. Currently, the harvesting process is labour intensive and costly. In the short term, local governments have tried launching projects that incentivise volunteers to manually remove the seaweed from the shore, however this is not a long-term solution.
Researchers are now developing robotic systems that could offer a more effective and efficient way to monitor, collect and analyse the composition of the sargassum, meaning it could eventually be automatically harvested. Suitable technologies exist already, however, cost and maintenance means most regional governments struggle to invest in them.
The Role Of International Organisations
Given the cross-border nature of the sargassum accumulation issue, there is a need for international policies and regulations that can help to mitigate the impacts of the seaweed. This could include the accountability of actors, such as fishing boats, that may have contributed to the sargassum crisis, as well as the need to develop partnerships with countries to share resources, data and knowledge.
It is also recommended to encourage collaboration between public and private sectors, to identify potential business opportunities and develop pilot projects to take advantage of the potential of sargassum seaweed. A range of organisations already exist, such as the Global Seaweed Alliance, the International Seaweed Association and the Global Sargassum Network, which are leading the way in coordinating approaches to access, exploit and manage the sargassum seaweed.
Governments Intervention and Education
Governments have an essential role to play in managing the sargassum crisis. Apart from the coordination of programs to tackle the seaweed’s accumulation and harvesting processes, it is important for governments to prioritise education initiatives, in order to help communities and other people make informed decisions about the seaweed’s possible uses locally.
In 2019, the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) launched the ‘Sargassum Atlas’ project to raise public awareness of the ongoing global sargassum crisis. The initiative provides interactive online maps that allow users to track the arrival and development of sargassum accumulations. It also provides resources and training to develop appropriate ways to manage and collect the seaweed.
In some regions, such as North and South America, a number of governments have invested in protocols to conduct sargassum surveys, satellite mapping and ocean modelling, in order to better understand the dynamics of the sargassum and develop effective natural resources management plans.
Moreover, there is a need to develop programs that involve both the private and the public sector to capitalise on the potential of the sargassum seaweed. This could include the establishment of tax incentives to fund seaweed-based projects, institutionalising systematic monitoring programs and creating public-enterprises to research suitable mechanisms for producing seaweed-based products.
Conclusion
Recent research has highlighted the potential for sustainable sargassum seaweed use, with studies showing the possibility of producing bioethanol, bioplastics, fertilisers and functional food ingredients from the seaweed. However, in order to use the sargassum seaweed in a commercially viable and environmentally responsible way, there is a need for further research, financial investments, collaborative strategies and government interventions.
