october | water story...

What can be drank as a tea, used as a fertilizer and provides a
| home to a myriad of Sea Creatures?

SARGASSUM GULFWEED
Sargassum natans

by Helen Gardner

While strolling along our beautiful beaches you may encounter heaps of brown or golden-colored seaweed. The weed is a more common sight during the winter months but this year it does seem to have made an earlier appearance. We believe that the Sargasso Sea and the Sargasso Weed were named by early Portuguese sailors. The Sargasso weed is covered with small gas-filled bubbles that reminded the sailors of a grape-like plant found in their native country. Tales have been handed down of mariners encountering such thick masses of the weed that they were afraid of becoming ensnared in it.

While many may think that the weed is unsightly on our beaches our readers may be interested to know a little more about this algae. The Sargassum weed is home to hundreds of species of marine life. Many of these species such as the Sargassum Fish and the Sargassum Crab have evolved so that they look almost exactly like the weed and you have to look very carefully to find them. The weed also provides a sanctuary for juvenile pelagic fish. Young fish are not as fast as their adult forms and are therefore easy prey for predators. The Sargassum Weed provides a safe haven for young fish. Young billfish, dolphin, swordfish and even some species of snapper and grouper can be found seeking refuge in the mats of weed. If you scoop a clump of Sargasso Weed up out of the sea and gently shake it you will likely notice small anemones, flatworms, pipefish, small crabs, shrimp and Sargassum fish fall out of the weed. Young turtles of all species seek refuge in the weed, finding both food and shelter from predators.

For many years Bermudians have gathered the weed that has washed up on the beaches and used it to fertilize their banana trees. The weed also serves to anchor the sand dunes and helps prevent wind and water erosion.

In China Sargassum is cultivated and cleaned for use as an herbal remedy. In its powered form it can be dissolved into hot water and drank as a tea. It is reputed to cure excess phlegm.

So as you walk along our beaches and swim in our beautiful clear waters look for Sargassum Weed and see what little creatures you can find hiding in it.