Abstract

In the Western Atlantic Ocean pelagic brown algae Sargassum natans and S. fluitans (Phaeophyta) form a dynamic structural habitat that harbors large and diverse assemblages of vertebrate and invertebrate species. Relationships among ocean currents, winds and drift patterns of Sargassum within the region are not well understood. The influx of massive quantities of pelagic Sargassum onto eastern coastlines of several Caribbean islands during Summer 2011 was an event previously undocumented for the region. The underlying cause(s) of this phenomenon and the potential impacts on coastal fisheries and habitats were issues of immediate interest and concern. We provide an overview of this wide-spread incident and examine ocean currents and advective pathways associated with the transport of Sargassum into the region and onto island shores. A summary of discussions with local fishers, researchers, and resource managers regarding observations and scientific assessments conducted during and following the Sargassum incursion is presented.