Dominican Republic: “Sargassum situation is critical”

The sargassum situation in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean is “critical.” It was announced by José Reyes López, Vice Minister of Coastal and Marine Resources of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, at the regional climate week for Latin America and the Caribbean, “Semana del Clima de América Latina y el Caribe 2022”.

Reyes López attributes the increase in these brown macroalgae, which are becoming more common, to the effects of “climate change.” The arrival of sargassum is affecting Dominican beach tourism, the Caribbean country’s main economic engine.

“As a result of climate change and the changes caused by the currents, the sargasso is increasingly reaching points where it has never reached us before,” López said, citing as examples that the seaweed has reached Pedernales, Miches, and Puerto Plata.

The presence of sargassum in the Caribbean received special attention in 2011 when it accumulated on the coasts. In recent years it has even been monitored by satellite, as is being done by the University of South Florida.

In its June report this year, the Academy found that the amount of sargassum continues to increase in the tropical Atlantic, Caribbean, western Mid-Atlantic, eastern Mid-Atlantic, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Overall, the amount in all regions combined increased from 18.8 million tons in May last year to 24.2 million tons in June 2022, a new record. Due to strong ocean currents, there are also warnings that more sargassum could enter the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico in the coming months.

López explained that since this is a regional problem, a working group would be established with different institutions and the support of the European Union. The working group would be chaired by the Dominican Republic, which wants to position itself as a regional leader on this issue.

He pointed out the need to take swift action against the sargasso plant, which is destroying marine biodiversity, turtle nesting sites, and fishing communities, affecting coral reefs and the ecosystem, harming fishing communities, and increasingly impacting the tourism sector.

According to him, sargasso barriers are placed individually in hotel zones following the guidelines of the Deputy Minister of Coastal and Marine Resources of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.

Reyes López acknowledged the work of these barriers but warned that they are insufficient and stop only part of the algae. In addition, he said, the issue of collection and ultimate disposal of the sargasso must be addressed. “It can’t just be put in any landfill,” he said.

With information from Latina Press

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