Sargassum Management Brief Policy
Since 2011, the unprecedented blooming of pelagic sargassum across the equatorial Atlantic has resulted in mass influxes of the seaweed into the Caribbean, which look set to continue indefinitely. This has already resulted in significant damage to the environment, and disruption and economic losses across multiple sectors, creating an urgent need for dynamic cross-sectoral management action.
With a focus on improving sargassum management, this policy brief outlines the range of impacts resulting from unmanaged sargassum strandings; presents a wide range of potentially viable uses for sargassum; lists notable ongoing initiatives supporting adaptation to sargassum influxes, and presents policy actions aimed at supporting adaption and resilience to this sargassum phenomenon.