The Mona Geoinformatics Institute (MGI) MGI continues transformational work under SARTRAC by participating in the SargSnap! initiative to conduct Sargassum monitoring in Ghana.
The MGI team along with researchers from the University of Southampton (UK), University of Ghana and Ghanaian Environmental Protection Agency travelled to the Western region of Ghana, in January 2023, to share our knowledge on the causes and biology of sargassum, as well as possible management and usage opportunities. The team shared their learning from similar sargassum experiences in Jamaica, and presented our work on the Jamaica Sargassum Early Advisory System (JSEAS).
SARTRAC is a 3-year programme of research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) that is being delivered through collaboration among the University of Southampton (UoS as lead), Mona Geoinformatics Institute, Centre for Marine Sciences (MGI and CMS of UWI-Mona), the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES of UWI-Cave Hill), University of Ghana and University of York.
SARTRAC aims to understand global- and local-scale drivers of Sargassum across the Atlantic basin from the Caribbean to Africa, while identifying transformational opportunities for communities affected by the holopelagic seaweed.
Stay tuned for more updates about the status of this transformative intervention. For more information, watch the project documentary using this link: https://bit.ly/3SSPSJA or visit our social media at: @mgi.blue @mgimona