History, current status and future perspectives of sargassum management in the Eastern Caribbean SIDS: A story from the frontline

Abstract

Mass influxes of pelagic Sargassum spp. in the Wider Caribbean region, since their inception in 2011, continue to present authorities with unprecedented management challenges relating to clean up, disposal and development of possible uses. To address these challenges, there have been many initiatives aimed at enhancing national capacity for the management of sargassum inundations and improving adaptation to influx events, and numerous technical and academic papers published on this topic. However, literature with specific relevance to the Eastern Caribbean Small Island Developing States (EC SIDS) is limited and somewhat fragmented. In this narrative review of the Eastern Caribbean sargassum management literature, together with our own knowledge and experience in this area, we examine the timeline of sargassum management, the current status of management, and highlight research and policy gaps that need to be addressed to improve management. In so doing we document how small island countries within the Eastern Caribbean have transitioned from simply reacting to sargassum influx events as a hazard, towards long-term adaptation and offer our perspectives on future management of sargassum in these SIDS. Throughout the years, the EC SIDS have excelled in knowledge dissemination, networking, research and securing some financial support, however, progress with implementation of management plans and improving institutional capacity has been comparatively slow. Advancing sustainable sargassum management in this region will require stronger governance, improved coordination, and sustained investment from both national governments and regional intergovernmental bodies. The key lessons from this review are likely to be highly relevant to other SIDS across the globe that are facing macroalgal blooms with similar resource and governance constraints.