NEPA Issues Seaweed Alert For North Coast

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is alerting members of the public to expect an influx of brown seaweed along the country's north coast in the coming days.

However, NEPA says the seaweed, which have been spotted offshore, is a natural phenomenon that poses no threat to the environment or human life.

"The seaweed is actually a type of open ocean algae called Sargassum. It is only found in the Atlantic Ocean and provides refuge for migratory species," NEPA said in a statement today.

The agency said, too, that it is an essential habitat for some species of fish and invertebrates and provides shelter and food to the Tuna fish and other commercially important fishes.

NEPA says the Sargassum will cause an odor and attract insects as it gathers on the sea shore.

However, it says leaving it on the beach has proven to be the simplest solution.

NEPA says persons who choose to remove the Sargassum should take special care to minimise the amount of sand they remove from the sea shore.

The Sargassum can be re-distributed to areas affected by beach erosion.