In this episode we talk to Javier Diaz. He is a Marine Biology Master student at University of Groningen, researching the importance of healthy fish nursery habitats in Curaçao, where he is from. He is also a board member and the research coordinator at Stichting Uniek Curaçao, a NGO group that works towards heightening the life quality of the local residents and among other things is removing Sargassum in parts of Curaçao. Sargassum to him is a nursery in the open water but becomes a problem when it reaches the coasts. Listen to the episode to hear about:

- Sargassum has always occurred on Curaçao but the blooms are more severe now  (2:00)

- Impacts of Sargassum on Curaçao (3:00)

- Stichting Uniek Curaçao and what it does for the local people, nature and youth (3:45)

- Traditional ecological knowledge of fishermen in Curaçao and how it relates to his science education (6:00)

- Languages spoken on Curaçao (9:00)

- Languages that Uniek Curaçao uses for their outreach (10:16)

- How is Sargassum dealt with on Curaçao and the planned development of a removal protocol (13:15)

- Mortality of wildlife during Sargassum events (19:30)

- Rescuing Seaturtles from compacted Sargassum (22:00)

- Sargassum arrives in Curaçao March/April and sits bays until July (24:30)

- Health impacts of Sargassum on Curaçao (24:45)

- Storage of removed Sargassum on Curaçao and plans for using it as products (25:30)

Learn more about Uniek Curaçao and watch the videos Javier talked about in the episode:

֍ Stichting Uniek Curaçao facebook page

֍ Kiko sargassum ta?- Video explaining Sargassum in Papiamentu

֍ Video of turtle rescue in Boka Ascencion

֍ Video of plastic and debrief pool in Boka Ascencion

֍ Video of volunteers cleaning up Boka Patrick

֍ https://www.facebook.com/465248466901826/videos/1881404935286165

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