The recent waves of Sargassum weed that have made their way to Bermuda have as usual contained a wide variety of fauna including juvenile pelagic fish.
Above and beyond the usual sargassum community the variety of species found depends upon the currents and time of year, and recently it has included juvenile Mahi-Mahi in the 1 inch to 4 inch range, several of which were collected by Species Collector Chris Flook.
Nonsuch Expeditions lead photographer Jean-Pierre Rouja documented these different stages some of which can be seen here.
Fortunately Bermuda has not thus far seen the destructive amounts of Sargassum that has flooded the Caribbean over the past few months, where it has been overwhelming various coastlines in some places so thick that turtles and dolphins have drowned, not being able to break through to the surface to breathe. The thick matts when amassed in a bay or coastline quickly start rotting and turn toxic killing all of the fish in the proximity as well.
At least for now, the Sargassum they are having problems with is not coming out of the Sargasso Sea, but instead from further South where it has been increasing in recent years. It remains to be seen if the conditions that have caused those increases will eventually affect Bermuda as well…
For more information please visit the Sargasso Sea Commission Website
Big thanks the BIOS for the pop-up studio space.