SEVERAL shorelines along the Essequibo Coast are currently inundated with masses of strange-looking seaweeds.

The seaweeds, also called sargassum, was noticed by fishermen as well as residents living in areas such as Paradise, Devonshire Castle, Golden Fleece, Perseverance and Zorg.
According to residents from these villages, although the seaweeds are not life-threatening, they would like an investigation to be launched by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Ministry of Agriculture. Reports were already lodged with local environmental officers in Region Two who have taken samples.

During interviews conducted with fishermen at the Golden Fleece seashore, huge masses of seaweeds were noticed floating up the shoreline for almost three weeks now. One fisherman, Vijay Ganpat, said that it was hampering his catch, explaining that often times the seaweeds would entangle his seine. Other fishermen echoed similar sentiments. Only recently fishermen were forced to return from sea in an effort to remove the seaweeds.

Information reaching Guyana Chronicle suggests some boats were finding it difficult to conduct fishing activities due to the floating seaweeds, which some suspect is coming from the Atlantic Ocean floor. It has resulted in a steep drop of catch in the fishing industry, particularly in Region Two.