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For weeks now, the beach at Anse des Cayes has been literally invaded by sargassum. The groundings have been so massive and regular that they have forced Le Manapany hotel to bring forward its annual closing date and close its season on Wednesday July 30. But what about the residents who have to put up with the unbearable smells and fumes produced by the rotting algae? On Friday July 25, they requested a meeting with the local authorities. In the absence of the president, Xavier Lédée, the third vice-president, Marie-Angèle Aubin, went to meet a dozen residents. The discussion took place at the end of Anse des Cayes, where the pile of sargassum almost resembles a polder. "When you can walk on it and step out onto the sea, there's a real problem," complains one resident. Accompanied by a handful of agents from the Collectivité, the elected representative, who is also president of the Agence territoriale de l'Anse des Cayes and Anse des Lézards, who are also suffering the consequences of sargassum groundings. "The idea was to get the Collectivité to come and see the situation for themselves, so that more can be done to remove the sargassum," explains one resident. As a resident of Anse des Lézards points out, "we haven't seen many people since the arrival of the sargassum in June".
More arrivals expected
In an online publication dated Tuesday, July 29, President Lédée recounted his discussions with Nicolas Vernoux, "the bearer of an ambitious project aimed at adding value to Sargasso seaweed, notably through its incorporation into road concretes", adding: "This innovative approach would give a second life to a natural waste that is currently problematic, by integrating it into concrete sustainable construction solutions. "Not a word, however, about the current situation.
And it's not just the residents of Anse des Cayes and Anse des Lézards who continue to suffer daily from the effects of putrefying stranded algae. In Marigot, the atmosphere is almost unbreathable. "We no longer open the windows or go out on the terrace, the smells are so strong", says one resident. The smells are stagnant and heavy, reaching as far as Vitet and part of Pointe Milou.
The latest bulletin from Météo France on Sargasso groundings dates from Monday July 28. The forecast for the next two weeks is as follows: "Sargassum arrivals are continuing. The density of Sargassum between the West Indies and up to 400 km away remains very high, with other rafts present in greater numbers further east. The risk of grounding remains high over the next 15 days. "As for the ecological consequences in the most severely affected bays, they already look dramatic.
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Sea bathing water from "good" to "excellent" according to the ars
Earlier this week, the Agence régionale de santé (Regional Health Agency) published a report on sea bathing waters in Guadeloupe, Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy in 2024. In Saint-Barth, thirteen bathing sites are referenced. "During the 2024 season, 208 samples were taken as part of regular health checks," says the ARS, which writes: "Analysis of the data from the last four seasons reveals an excellent level of water quality. 69% of bathing areas are classified as "excellent quality" and 31% as "good quality", reflecting compliance with regulatory requirements. "However, the Regional Health Agency notes that Saint-Barth has gone from having one bathing site classified as "good quality" in 2023 to four in 2024. These are Lorient, Corossol, Saint-Jean aéroport and Public. On the other hand, all the others are designated as excellent quality: Grands Galets (Shell Beach), Anse Maréchal, Grand and Petit-Cul-de-Sac, Anse des Cayes, Flamands, Salines, Gouverneur and... Marigot.
