The Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) has announced today that it is working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to minimize the effects of the decomposing sargassum seaweed that has been impacting the Red Hook area on St. Thomas.
The excessive amount of decaying sargassum seaweed has caused the depletion of oxygen in the bay, thus producing a rotten stench. DPNR and EPA will conduct air and water sampling to determine potential impacts to the surrounding communities.
Due to the stench, the Division of Fish and Wildlife located in Red Hook will be temporarily relocated to the Charles W. Turnbull Regional Library in Estate Tutu as of 1 p.m. Thursday.
To contact Fish and Wildlife staff, call 774-0630.
Dawn L. Henry Esq., DPNR commissioner, will notify the public as soon as the situation has been resolved.