Sargasso: Good news for Saint-Martin and vigilance for Saint-Barthélemy
Dear readers, we have good news for the lovers of Saint-Martin! According to the monitoring and forecasting bulletin of pelagic sargassum stranding for the Northern Islands, released by Meteo France this Thursday, March 30, 2023, the risk level for the territory of St. Martin is now considered low. However, the situation is different for the neighboring island of Saint-Barthélemy, which remains at medium risk.
After a beginning of season marked by an early and important production of sargassum, the strandings of these brown algae should reduce in the days to come for Saint-Martin. The arrivals will be more or less punctual, which is great news for residents and tourists who wish to enjoy the beaches without being disturbed by these invasive algae.
Satellite images from March 27, 2023 show small, scattered rafts of Sargassum, pushed by a prevailing easterly flow over the first 15 to 25 km east of the two islands. The more distant and consequent rafts will lead to larger strandings over the weekend, especially on the east side of Saint Barthélemy.
Be careful, it is important to remain vigilant. The numerous sargassum rafts detected east of the Antilles arc over a distance of a little more than 3000 km represent a permanent threat for the Antilles in the next two months. Local authorities and cleaning services are mobilized to deal with this situation and minimize the impact on beaches and tourist activities.
The outlook for St. Martin is quite positive, with a low risk level for sargassum strandings. However, it is essential to remain attentive and follow the recommendations of local authorities to preserve our paradise beaches. For its part, Saint Barts will have to be vigilant in the face of this situation and continue to monitor the evolution of sargassum strandings.
Stay tuned to our blog for the latest news and forecasts regarding Sargassum and other topics related to our beautiful island of St. Martin.