The Sargassum Problem

Since 2011, the proliferation of pelagic sargassum blooms has severely impacted the Caribbean, driven by climate-induced warming, fertiliser runoff, and altered oceanic circulation. At peak events, over 38 million metric tonnes of floating sargassum have been recorded across the region, causing:

Coastal ecological damage, including reef and seagrass die-off

Public health issues, due to hydrogen sulphide and ammonia emissions from decomposing biomass

Tourism and economic disruption, costing millions in clean-up and losses

Waste management overload, with no scalable disposal or reuse methods available .

Ecological Disaster

The influx of Sargassum linked to warming waters, nutrient run-off from agriculture, and changing ocean currents. This ecological issue not only affects marine ecosystems but also presents a potential Sargassum solution through innovative approaches like Marine Pyrolysis, which can aid in transforming waste into energy.

Economic Burden

Tourism, the economic lifeline for many Caribbean nations, is crippled by Sargassum invasions. Decomposing mats emit hydrogen sulphide, deterring tourists and harming local businesses. Cleanup operations cost governments millions each year, underscoring the need for effective waste management strategies.

Public Health Risk

Rotting Sargassum emits hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) and ammonia (NH₃) gases that cause respiratory issues, highlighting the urgent need for solutions to mitigate these public health risks.

The Sargassum Solution

Our Mission

At Marine Pyrolysis, our mission is to transform harmful marine biomass into valuable, climate-positive resources through innovative pyrolysis technology. Our work bridges environmental remediation with circular-economy solutions, turning marine waste into opportunity.

Our Process

Offering a full-lifecycle engineering solution to intercept, process, and valorise sargassum using offshore collection vessels and modular pyrolysis units. The approach is designed for rapid deployment across multiple island nations and provides a closed-loop, carbon-negative alternative to landfill disposal or burning.

The End Product - Biochar

Biochar is one of the most stable forms of carbon

Biochar is the solid, carbon-rich product of pyrolysis and is characterised by high thermal stability and a porous structure with substantial surface area. It is most commonly produced through the slow pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass under limited or no oxygen conditions. During pyrolysis, volatile compounds are thermally decomposed, vaporised, and removed, leaving behind a fixed-carbon matrix containing micro- and nanopores. This porous morphology enhances biochar’s capacity to adsorb nutrients, water, and certain contaminants, including heavy metals, making it effective as a soil amendment, filtration medium, and material for environmental remediation. Owing to its relative chemical and biological stability, a significant fraction of biochar carbon can persist in soils for hundreds to thousands of years, allowing it to function as a long-term carbon sink.

Our Services

We specialise in helping communities address sargassum influxes by providing a fully integrated, turnkey solution, from sargassum collection through to the production of marketable commodities

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Mission Of Marine Pyrolysis?

At Marine Pyrolysis, our mission is to deliver sustainable, environmentally responsible solutions to the global sargassum crisis. By converting excess sargassum into valuable, climate-positive products, we help protect coastal ecosystems, support affected communities, and reduce environmental and economic harm. Our approach combines innovation, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship to turn a persistent marine challenge into a long-term solution

What Is Sargassum?

Sargassum is a floating brown macroalgae that naturally occurs in the open ocean, particularly in the Atlantic. In recent years, excessive sargassum blooms have accumulated along coastlines, where they can disrupt marine ecosystems, harm tourism and fisheries, and release unpleasant odours and pollutants as they decompose. While naturally occurring, these large-scale influxes have become an environmental and economic challenge for many coastal communities

Where Countries Are Affected By Sargassum

Sargassum influxes affect a wide range of countries across the Atlantic, Caribbean, and parts of West Africa.

Coastal nations in the Caribbean, including Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Barbados, and Jamaica, experience severe and recurring strandings that impact tourism, fisheries, and coastal ecosystems. Countries along the Gulf of Mexico and the southeastern United States are also affected, as well as West African nations such as Ghana and Sierra Leone.

The transboundary nature of sargassum makes it a shared regional challenge requiring coordinated, long-term solutions.

What Sets Marine Pyrolysis Apart From Other Companies?

Marine Pyrolysis stands apart by offering a truly end-to-end solution to the sargassum crisis. Unlike companies that focus on a single stage of management or disposal, we address the entire value chain, from offshore sargassum collection through to onshore processing and conversion into valuable commodities. This integrated approach not only removes sargassum before it impacts coastlines, but also transforms it into economic opportunities that directly benefit local communities, creating a sustainable, circular solution rather than a temporary fix.

What Can Biochar Be Used For?

Biochar has a wide range of practical applications. It can be used as a soil amendment to improve fertility, water retention, and crop yields, as well as a filter for removing contaminants from water and air. Additionally, biochar plays a role in environmental remediation by adsorbing heavy metals and pollutants, and it serves as a long-term carbon sink, helping to mitigate climate change. Its versatility makes it valuable in agriculture, environmental management, and sustainable industry. Add an answer to this item.

What Are The Benefits Of Using Pyrolysis?

Using pyrolysis to process sargassum offers multiple environmental and economic benefits. It transforms problematic seaweed into valuable, stable products such as biochar, oils, and fertilizers, reducing the ecological impact of decomposing sargassum on coastlines. This process also locks carbon into a long-lasting form, contributing to climate change mitigation, while creating marketable commodities that support local communities and promote a circular, sustainable approach to marine biomass management.

How Does Pyrolysis Work?

Pyrolysis is a thermochemical process that decomposes organic material at high temperatures in the absence of oxygen. During the process, biomass such as sargassum is heated, causing volatile compounds to vaporize and leaving behind a stable, carbon-rich solid called biochar. The vapors can be further condensed into bio-oils and gases, which can be used as energy or industrial feedstocks. This process not only converts waste into valuable products but also stabilizes carbon, preventing it from returning to the atmosphere. Add an answer to this item.