The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) says the oily-looking substance recently seen along Farquhar Beach in Clarendon is not petroleum-based but an accumulation of seaweed and sargassum.
According to NEPA, sargassum is a free-floating brown seaweed found only in the Atlantic Ocean, with two species common to the Caribbean. It drifts with ocean currents and provides vital habitat, food, and shelter for marine life, including fish, turtles, and whales.
While sargassum supports beach nourishment, excessive buildup can lead to erosion and fish kills when it decomposes.
The clarification follows alarm from residents who reported that the beach appeared oily and that dead fish and lobsters had washed ashore.
NEPA's director of environmental management and conservation, Anthony McKenzie, told The Gleaner that investigations conducted on Saturday found no evidence of oil contamination.
"Sargassum, especially when it begins to decompose, can look like oil from a distance, and the recent hurricane may have pushed them to that area," McKenzie said. "However, based on the site visit and tests conducted, there is no indication of oil."
He noted that since 2011, the Caribbean has been grappling with recurring blooms of sargassum, affecting coastal areas such as the Portland Bight in Clarendon and the Palisadoes strip in Kingston.