Man and machine clean up sargassum

| 22/08/2019 | 17 Comments
  • Cayman News Service
  • Cayman News Service

(CNS): A combination of specialist machinery and a group of workers has had a significant impact in the battle against sargassum seaweed on local beaches. A small crew of six people on the extended National Community Enhancement Project (NiCE) cleaned up the coastline at the South Sound ramp and board walk, the Frank Sound ramp, Coe Wood Beach in Bodden Town, Cayman Kai Public Beach, North Side and Colliers Beach in East End.

Using equipment including a skid steer, back hoe and beach tech marina, the teams removed the sargassum, and in instances where it was difficult to separate the seaweed from the sand, it was taken to a government location to be dried, sieved and then the sand was taken back to the beaches by the Recreation, Parks and Cemeteries Unit.

Infrastructure Minister Joey Hew commended those involved in the clean-up and the short time in which it was done. “Cleaning the sargassum manually is not sustainable,” he said. “This approach worked well with the combination of manual labour and machinery. We have received positive feedback from members of the communities, who noted the stark difference they have seen in the clean-up of our beaches.”

The ministry is also leading a multi-agency task force created to review the sargassum issue and map a way forward.

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Category: Land Habitat, Science & Nature

Comments (17)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Your idea of fixing the dump is to move it to another site.

    Moron!

  2. Anonymous says:

    Well done compacting the beach so that turtles are either unable to nest ot are crushed in the nest.
    Groomed beaches are man’s design, not natures. Manual raking is the only option.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Stopping the sargassum with floating booms is the only way. You’ve already lost the battle if it hits the beach.

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      • Anonymous says:

        You definitely won’t stop sargassum with booms. Look at Wyndham Reef or Rum Point, it just runs underneath as it rots at sea. And it absolutely won’t stop current driven stinking brown water from rotten weed further down the coast.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Yes you will, it just has to be harvested daily before it has chance to rot and sink. It’s got to be easier than raking the beach daily which also removes precious sand.

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  3. Anonymous says:

    South Sound looked beautiful this morning and back to normal again. Good job.

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  4. Anonymous says:

    World class performance.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    Nice. Looks good

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  6. Anonymous says:

    why not offer this service to all the hotels. Make money clearing sargasm.

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  7. Anonymous says:

    Public beaches yes. Individual beach front property, no. The ordinary joe public cannot gain access and enjoy the beach so why is the ordinary joe public paying for it?

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    • Anonymous says:

      The beachfront the public can walk on is where the sargassum is, but suit yourself, Troll.

    • Anonymous says:

      The public has the right to enjoy all beach property. Do not surrender it by acknowledging otherwise.

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  8. Anonymous says:

    bring in a law where all private land owners must keep their beaches free from sargassum

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    • Anonymous says:

      They don’t own the part where the sargassum is. Send your bill to the queen. As for me I don’t mind the sargassum in front of my place. Nature comes and goes with it. You people just keep peeing in your own pool without a thought.

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  9. Anonymous says:

    Well done Minister Hew. Keep up the good works

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