A story in Anguilla

Sargassum is a floating macroalgae found in the Sargasso Sea, a place of legend and folklore.

Naturally occurring sargassum is a great habitat for fish, birds and crustaceans, some of which are highly endangered, such as the hawksbill turtle. Ocean pioneer Sylvia Earle calls sargassum “a golden floating rainforest”.

In the open ocean sargassum is harmless. However, when ocean currents and winds push sargassum towards the shore it triggers an array of problems. Sargassum is an increasing issue all along the coasts of the Caribbean, Florida and Mexico, negatively impacting coastal ecosystems, communities and the planet.

This is the start of a photo series exploring the sargassum issue at hand on a small island in the eastern Caribbean…