Sierra Leone beaches invaded by seaweed

Once an area of pristine, Sierra Leone’s beaches are now clogged with foul-smelling seaweed that threaten the tourism and fishing sectors.

At a beach in the west end of the capital Freetown, the white sands were recently covered up with algae.

According to a local environmentalist, there are now more than four tonnes of seaweed deposited over the sparkling sands.

The capital’s beaches are also said to be badly affected.

Reports indicate that a massive mechanism for a daily clearing exercise using dredgers has begun. The hardest hit by the deposits are said to be fishermen who end up fishing seaweeds.

The seaweeds have now put off locals and tourists who used to patronize the beaches.