OECS Director General calls for collective approach to deal with sargassum problem

The Director General of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Dr Didacus Jules, has reiterated the need for a collective approach towards dealing with the sargassum situation in the Caribbean.

Addressing the opening of the two-day Second European Union-Caribbean Global Gateway conference on Sargassum on Tuesday (October 1, 2024), Dr Jules said there have been too many conferences and that now is the time for action.

“We are here because sargassum—as we know, a problem that has beset our shores for over a decade—demands our collective action,” Dr Jules told the opening ceremony of the conference that is being held under the theme ‘Turning the Tide: Sustainable Practices and Economic Opportunities for Sargassum in the Caribbean Basin’.

“It threatens our coastal communities, undermines public health and places enormous pressure on our government’s resources. Yet it is also more than a threat. It is a call to action, an opportunity to shift from crisis management to innovation, sustainability and economic transformation. It is an opportunity that will impact every country in the Caribbean Basin, and that is why we must act decisively,” he said.

Dr Jules told the conference, which is an initiative under Global Gateway, the European Union’s strategy to boost investments that generate smart, clean and secure value chains across the world, that the real success of this event will be measured not by the conversations held, but by the actions taken.

“So, as we begin this important dialogue, I challenge each of us to focus on action. We must leave here, not just with ideas and discussions,” he said, “but with concrete plans and commitments. Let us commit to building partnerships that can bring together government, industry, academia and local communities.”

The OECS Director General told the delegates that sargassum is not just a natural phenomenon, but a recurring one, exacerbated by global environmental shifts.

“We have seen it affecting our fishing industries, disrupt tourism and stretch our public services thin as we go to clean up our beaches,” he noted. “The sheer scale of the problem, hundreds of thousands of tons of seaweed washing ashore annually is staggering, but today, we resolve to see it differently.”

“What if, as has been said, we can turn the tide on sargassum and convert it into an asset? This is not a far-off dream. It is within our grasp,” he asserted. “In fact, some of our member states partners and innovators have already been exploring how to transform sargassum into products that can generate revenue and create jobs.”

Dr Jules said that these initiatives point to the way forward, but there is need to accelerate and expand these efforts.

“Our task here today is to ensure that we move beyond isolated projects and develop a coordinated, scalable and sustainable response. Our challenge is to transform the narrative of sargassum from one of burden to one of opportunity, and this transformation requires a bold, three-pronged approach,” he said.

“First, we must invest in research and development. While the economic potential of Sargassum is real,” he observed, “there’s still much that we need to understand about how to harness it safely and effectively, from its variable chemical composition to its heavy metal content, we need to ensure that sargassum can be valorised in a way that protects both the environment and human health.”

Dr Jules reported that research institutions, both within the region and beyond, are already exploring the potential of sargassum as a resource for biofuels, pharmaceuticals, fertilisers and even building materials, but more investment is needed to bring these solutions to scale.

“This conference will help us to connect those dots between innovators and investors, and I urge us to commit to expanding these networks,” he said, adding there also is a need for an enabling policy environment.

“Our governments have already made strides in developing national strategies to address sargassum, but we must now take this further together,” he urged. “We therefore need regional policies that support the establishment of a sustainable sargassum industry.”

“This means creating frameworks that encourage public private partnerships, incentivise investment in processing technologies and streamline the regulatory requirements for sargassum-based products.”

Dr Jules said that the region can and should become a global leader in sargassum, “but we will only achieve this by aligning our policies with our ambitions.”

He told the conference that there is need for regional cooperation as sargassum knows no boundaries, and neither should be the response.

“It was the American poet Robert Frost who was suited in his poem mending fences, and I quote, ‘good neighbours make good fences’.  But the Caribbean Sea that we share has no fences, and nature makes a fiction of our maritime boundaries. The influxes we face require not only national efforts, but a coordinated regional strategy,” Dr Jules stated.

“We need to work together on forecasting, collection, storage and processing. This is not just a matter of efficiency. It is also a matter of fairness. In our case, strong cooperation makes good neighbours. Some countries are more severely impacted than others, and the burden of dealing with sargassum should not fall disproportionately on any one state.”

“By sharing resources, knowledge and technology, we can ensure that all countries in the Caribbean Basin are equipped to handle the challenge. In this regard, the European Union’s Global Gateway Initiative is a crucial partner.”

Dr Jules said that the EU has demonstrated a deep commitment to supporting the region, not just through funding, but through collaboration and shared learning.

“This conference is a testament to this,” he acknowledged, “and it is my hope that we will leave here with even stronger ties between the Caribbean and the EU in our joint efforts to tackle this issue. But make no mistake, this is not just a matter of governments and institutions. The private sector has a role, key role to play.”

He said many of those present here represent industries that are already experimenting with innovative uses for sargassum, from cosmetics to pharmaceuticals to energy production and agriculture.

“Your creativity, your risk taking, and your investment are what will ultimately drive the success of this endeavour,” Dr Jules said, adding: “I urge you to see yourselves as part of a larger ecosystem, one where your success contributes not only to your own bottom line, but to the resilience and sustainability of our entire region.”

“We are also mindful of the communities that bear the brunt of sargassum influxes, fishermen, coastal businesses, local residents have all been impacted,” he pointed out. “As we develop solutions, we must ensure that they are inclusive, taking into account the needs and the voices of those most affected.”

He added: “This is not just about creating high tech solutions in labs; it is about building resilient communities and economies from the ground up. The time for action is now.”

The OECS Director General said over the next two days, the conference will explore a range of solutions, from policy frameworks and investment strategies to scientific innovations and business models, hearing also from experts, government leaders, industry pioneers, who are already making strides in this field.

He urged conference delegates: “Let us commit to finding solutions that are innovative, scalable and sustainable, and let us commit to acting now, because the future of our region depends on it.” —ST. GEORGE’s, Grenada (CMC)

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