AQUATIC PLANT BARRIERS TO KEEP BEACHES CLEAN
Floating aquatic plant booms are designed to control the impact of seaweed, sargassum, algae, and other invasive marine plants protecting lakes, beaches and hotels along the shoreline. They can either be used seasonally or long-term to secure an area from aquatic plants and debris that would otherwise litter beaches. The design and perimeter layouts are intended to deflect or redirect aquatic plants or debris.
Uses For Seaweed/Sargassum Barriers
Aquatic plant booms are used for many applications, including preventing the migration of sargassum and aquatic plants in the tourism industry and the following marine environments:
- Tourist Beaches
- Hotels & Resorts
- Parks
- Marinas
- Boat Docks & Ports
- Fishing Villages
- Event Areas
- Private Waterfront Properties
- Fish Farms & Aquaculture Facilities
FLOATING AQUATIC PLANT BOOMS
ABASCO has designed aquatic plant barriers that allow for water movement through the curtain mesh and prevents the impact of sargassum or seaweed invasion along the shoreline. A properly installed ABASCO Aquatic Plant Barrier should deflect the vegetation where installed, offering long term or seasonal protection from build up where a properly anchored perimeter is established. Below are our standard products developed for the many different applications required to protect coastlines and beaches with modifications and custom sargassum containment boom designs available based upon the requirements.
These aquatic plant booms are designed to contain, deflect or block various levels of sargassum while still allowing Aquatic Life to freely pass underneath the barrier. The barriers are aquatic-friendly, they do not have netting or other materials that can potentially trap animals causing serious injury and/or death to the aquatic life or cause damage to the surrounding environment.
| Model | AB-15 "Economy Barriers" | AB-30 "Light Aquatic Barrier" | AB-45 "Sargassum Barrier" | AB-60 "Beach Protector" | AB-75 "HD Beach Barrier" |
| Description | Designed for light floating debris in calm environments, such as floating leaves and plastic bottles. | Capable of handling light buildups of floating seaweed in relatively calm environments. | Designed for larger amounts of sargassum in a moderate to heavy environment. | Designed for heavier buildups of floating seaweed and sargassum in more active environments with higher loads from wind, current and wave activity. | Designed for floating aquatic plant debris in high demand situations that experience high-stress loads from environmental conditions. |
| Overall Height | 15" | 30" | 45" | 60" | 75" |
| Freeboard | 4" | 7" | 9" | 12" | 15" |
| Draft | 11" | 23" | 36" | 48" | 60" |
| Bottom Ballast | 1/4" HG Chain | 3/8" HG Chain | 1/2" HG Chain | 1/2" HG Chain | 5/8" HG Chain |
| Tensile Strength | 5,000lbs | 14,000lbs | 20,000lbs | 30,000lbs | 45,000 |
| Base Fabric/Color | Yellow | Orange | Orange | Orange | Black |
| Optional Colors | Orange, Blue, Etc.. | Yellow, Blue, Etc.. | Black, Green, Royal Blue | Black, Green, Royal Blue | Green, Royal Blue, Orange |
| Skirt Fabric | Yellow | Black Mesh | Black Mesh | Black Mesh | Black Mesh |
Considerations For Sargassum Containment Boom Selection
Consider the following when deciding on the best sargassum/seaweed deflection barrier design and anchoring option for your specific application:
- Maximum wind speeds
- Maximum sea currents
- Maximum wave/swell heights also if rolling or breaking
- Will the perimeter layout have good deflection angles and will it be secured at shoreline
- Sea bottom conditions either sandy or hard bottom for anchoring
- Will coral beds be close to the barrier perimeter or anchoring
- Any boat traffic or wakes impacting the perimeter area
- Any special regulatory or permit requirements
Testimonials
"Excellent barrier system performance and consistent service support."
"Our resort, Barbuda Ocean Club is located on the southeast side of Barbuda. We have sizable issues withsargassum along the beach and after researching options decided to work with Antigua Diving Services (ADS). They surveyed the site with sea and climate conditions reviewed to determine the best layout and barrier type for open water deflection of the sargassum, avoiding the bay where beach residences are located at our facility.
Additionally, ADS reviewed sea bottom conditions and water depths so a proper anchoring system could be combined to secure the barriers in water depths from 10’ to 30’. The ABASCO Aquatic Barrier AB-61 was selected and specifications developed for the specific application by anchoring every 25’ Windward and 50’ Leeward given the potential wave, wind and current conditions. ABASCO manufactured the custom barriers designed for a long service life avoiding galvanic corrosion and shipped the ancillary anchor packages so they could be installed by the ADS Team.
Upon receipt, the ADS Team working with a regional subcontractor installed the helical screw anchors and deployed the AB-61 across the surveyed area. We were pleased with the barriers performance with ADS providing a maintenance service primarily removing algae build up as required from the barriers. During the second season, we acquired some additional footage to deflect the sargassum during seasonal wind variances, which really helped secure the full area given variable wind, wave and current conditions.
The total amount of barriers used on the project was 6,500’ which can be observed on ABASCO’s website taken from drone footage. Our experience with the ABASCO barriers and ADS team has been positive given the excellent barrier system performance and consistent service support."
- "Barbuda Ocean Club", HJB
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