Researchers looking at sargassum as biofuel feedstock opportunity
In Italy, across the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and West African coasts, massive arrivals of Sargassum seaweed have become an annual crisis. Thick mats of algae blanket beaches, disrupt fisheries, damage tourism and release harmful gases as they decay, with cleanup costs reaching hundreds of millions of dollars each year. What began as an unexpected environmental phenomenon has grown into a persistent socioeconomic challenge affecting multiple regions on both sides of the Atlantic.
A new study by international researchers suggests that this growing problem could also represent an untapped opportunity. The research, “Changing Drivers of the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt From Physical Forcing to Ecological Control,” shows that the vast blooms of Sargassum are not only likely to persist but may be predictable. This is significant because being able to predict blooms greatly increases the chances of using them for climate solutions such as marine carbon dioxide removal and biofuel production.
Category: Research
