Sierra Leone beaches invaded by seaweed

<p>Once an area of pristine, Sierra Leone’s beaches are now clogged with foul-smelling seaweed that threaten the tourism and fishing sectors. </p> <p>At a beach in the west end of the capital Freetown, the white sands were recently covered up with algae.</p> <p>According to a local environmentalist, there are now more than four tonnes of seaweed deposited over the sparkling sands.</p> <p>The capital’s beaches are also said to be badly affected.</p> <p>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. </p> <p>The seaweeds have now put off locals and tourists who used to patronize the beaches. </p> <p><strong><em><span class="caps">AFP</span></em></strong></p>