BASSETERRE: St. Kitts and Nevis has taken a major step in tackling its recurring sargassum problem, with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources hosting a handover ceremony for the Improving National Sargassum Management Capacities in the Caribbean Project — a collaborative effort backed by UNDP and the Government of Japan.
The initiative aims to strengthen the Federation’s ability to monitor, manage, and respond to the seaweed influxes that have increasingly threatened local fisheries, coastal tourism, and marine ecosystems.
Delivering the feature address, Hon. Samal Duggins underscored the stakes, noting that the partnership arrives at a critical time. “Strengthening national capacity to monitor, manage, and respond to sargassum is essential to protecting fisheries, safeguarding livelihoods, and preserving the Federation’s marine ecosystems and tourism product,” he said.
UNDP Resident Representative Limiya Eltayeb outlined what the project will deliver on the ground — enhanced technical capacity, stronger monitoring and early warning systems, and more sustainable coastal management practices across the region.
Japan’s investment in the project signals growing international recognition that Small Island Developing States like St. Kitts and Nevis face outsized consequences from climate-driven environmental challenges. Sonya Parry reaffirmed Tokyo’s commitment to supporting climate resilience efforts across the Caribbean, while Rhosyll Gaskell highlighted the importance of cross-border collaboration between islands facing the same coastal pressures.
Sargassum — a brown, free-floating seaweed — has washed ashore in record quantities across the Caribbean in recent years, choking fishing grounds, deterring tourists, and releasing hydrogen sulfide gas that poses health risks to coastal communities. For St. Kitts and Nevis, where the blue economy is a cornerstone of national development, finding sustainable solutions is not optional — it is urgent.
Officials say the project represents more than equipment and training. It signals a shift toward proactive, science-led coastal governance that could serve as a model for the wider region.
With partnerships now firmly in place, the Federation is positioning itself to stay ahead of future influxes rather than simply reacting to them — a critical distinction as sargassum seasons grow less predictable and more severe.