BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — THE Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is exploring solutions to address the growing problem of sargassum seaweed that continues to wash up along the beaches.
Sargassum influxes have become a persistent issue not only in the Federation but across the wider Caribbean, with the problem believed to be originating in the Atlantic Ocean. While many coastal areas have been affected by the brown algae, the Department of Marine Resources acknowledged during a recent press conference that it does not currently collect data on the volume of seaweed arriving onshore.
However, the department is now taking steps to assume a more active role in mitigation efforts—work that was previously led by hotel operators and other private stakeholders.
Port Control Officer Maritza Queeley said the department is in the process of acquiring equipment to begin large-scale removal operations.
“Going forward, we hope to have a better management of the removal process of the sargassum and not just leave it to the individuals or persons who have been affected, but have an area management strategy and team in place,” she said.
The challenge is not unique to St. Kitts and Nevis. Several Caribbean territories have voiced concerns over how sargassum is impacting their economies, particularly tourism, prompting regional leaders to explore collaborative responses.
Speaking on the issue, Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew recently told reporters that his administration is committed to finding innovative solutions.
"We are doing research and seeking to unite as a region to see what seaweed can be used for so we can change something that is affecting us to negatively to something that can benefit us," Dr Drew stated.
Queeley confirmed that the department is considering a comprehensive approach—not just removal, but storage, disposal, and forecasting future influxes. She also acknowledged past efforts to repurpose sargassum for practical use.
“There have been positive results when it’s heavily processed and cleaned of heavy metals,” she noted. “It’s been used successfully as mulch and fertilizer in agriculture. But we remain cautious about the long-term effects, especially when it comes to food safety and consumption.”
As the government weighs its options, exporting the seaweed has emerged as a potentially safer alternative.
"We are also looking at export, because there are some companies around the world who actually has interest in buying the sargassum so that they can process it. So being on the cautious side, it might be best that we just focus on exporting it," Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Miguel Felmming said.
He added: "But if there are persons on the island also who has a real viable business idea where we can really process this into something that we can utilise in agriculture and other areas, and after all the testing is done, we can see that it's really safe, then I think that is something that we'd support as well."
The government’s approach moving forward will be one of caution, innovation, and regional cooperation.
