The Caribbean, Florida, and North Atlantic are just some of the popular superyacht cruising regions. Coincidentally, they’re all waters where sargassum exists. The International SeaKeepers Society is seeking volunteers to collect sargassum samples, as citizen scientists supporting a research project.
Sargassum is a brown seaweed in abundant amounts. In fact, Florida has been dealing with significant sargassum washing up on its shores the past few weeks. The seaweed floats in clumps and even large patches on the water’s surface. Characteristics include leafy appendages, branches, and berry-like extensions. Often, a variety of fish rely on it as a habitat. Even more creatures such as marine birds and sea turtles, as well as crab and shrimp, rely on it for food, refuge, and breeding grounds.
The International SeaKeepers Society is helping to recruit volunteers to help a Florida-based marine scientist. In fact, Mike Parsons is a marine-science professor in the Water School at Florida Gulf Coast University, plus the director of the university’s Vester Field Station. Specifically, as a citizen scientist, you’ll tow a plankton net to collect sargassum samples. Parsons in turn will analyze the specimens for toxic, single-cell algae. That algae is Gambierdiscus, which tends to grow attached to Sargassum, among other algae.
Parsons had made a career of studying harmful algal blooms and the health of the ecosystem. In fact, other scientists have cited his work in their papers, resulting in more than 3,000 citings of his findings. Additionally, Parsons was appointed to Florida’s Blue-Green Algae Task Force in 2019, to improve water quality throughout the state.
Having yacht owners and crew collect sargassum samples is just one citizen-science SeaKeepers initiative. The non-profit regularly seeks citizen scientists and climate champions to contribute to scientific discoveries. A further related way owners and crew get involved is by hosting scientists and researchers aboard their yachts. These professionals often don’t have the funds to charter commercial ships. Furthermore, they lack access to vessels overall. Additionally, even when they can access a vessel, oftentimes the vessel won’t be in the waters where they need to conduct research. Yachts, by contrast, travel far wider around the world.
To learn more about how to collect sargassum samples with SeaKeepers, contact Katie Sheahan, the non-profit’s citizen science manager.
International SeaKeepers Society seakeepers.org
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