E64 Lac Baai: an ecological and cultural hotspot impacted by Sargassum

The Sargassum Podcast

In todays episode: Sabine and Jessica talk about the dynamic of the work in Bonaire, the importance of this area and how Sargassum are affecting its Marine Ecosystems Sabine Engel, raised on Curaçao, studied marine biology in Utrecht. Settled in Bonaire, she researches reefs and restores mangroves with STINAPA and Mangrove Maniacs. Jessica Johnson, from the US, shifted from Engineering to conservation. With a Master's from Universidade do Algarve, she directs Coastal Dynamics in Bonaire, focusing on seagrass and mangrove restoration.

03:50 Fran introducing our guests

05:47 What is Sargassum for Sabine

06:30 What is Sargassum for Jessica

08:00 How Bonaire is impacted by Sargassum

10:36 The management evolved since the arrival of Sargassum in Bonaire and people through citizen science got involved

13:23 How does the Sargassum influx affect Lac Bay?

15:13 Lac Bay is a very culturally important

16:55 When Sargassum enters, the mangrove starts to slowly die

19:11 How the net to capture Sargassum works

21:10 The origin of the Sargassum that arrives in Bonaire

22:00 An important concern: the Sargassum that arrives is enriched in heavy metals

23:00 The Morphotypes and composition that arrive

25:50 How the seagrass is affected by Sargassum

28:55 The work of the mangrove maniacs

31:00 The consultancy work of Coastal Dynamics

34:55 The Tropical Restoration Network: Workshops along the Caribbean

42:12 Thoughts about the episode by Fran, Jenna, and Pao

The Sargassum Podcast is made possible through funding by the Resilience, Sustainable Energy, and Marine Biodiversity Programme (RESEMBID). Financed under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories Regional Programme, RESEMBID is being implemented by Expertise France, with the primary stakeholders being the 12 Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories.

Relevant links:

Mangrove Maniacs:

Website: https://www.facebook.com/mangrovemaniacsbonaire/

Fb: Mangrove maniac website https://mangrovemaniacs.org/

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/mangrovemaniacsbonaire/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mangrove-maniacs-bonaire/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3UvaHNHxv2dlj8N4h4Qzzg

Jessica:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coastal.dynamics/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoastalDynamicsBonaire

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/67708572