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Study visit highlights opportunities for stronger sargassum management in VI

 Deputy Secretary, Premier’s Office, Dr. Lavon P. Chalwell-Brewley has stated that the Virgin Islands could benefit from practical strategies aimed at improving public health preparedness, protecting coastal ecosystems, strengthening tourism resilience, and creating economic opportunities through the productive use of sargassum. Photo: Internet Source
During the study visit held in Martinique and Guadeloupe from May 31 to June 5, delegates came together to explore innovative approaches to managing the environmental, social, health, and economic impacts of recurring sargassum influxes across the Caribbean. Dr. Chalwell-Brewley, along with Ms. Atoya George, a Climate Change Officer within the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change, represented the Virgin Islands. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands
During the study visit held in Martinique and Guadeloupe from May 31 to June 5, delegates came together to explore innovative approaches to managing the environmental, social, health, and economic impacts of recurring sargassum influxes across the Caribbean. Dr. Chalwell-Brewley, along with Ms. Atoya George, a Climate Change Officer within the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change, represented the Virgin Islands. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands
BASSE-TERRE, Guadeloupe- Deputy Secretary, Premier’s Office, Dr Lavon P. Chalwell-Brewley has stated that the Virgin Islands could benefit from practical strategies aimed at improving public health preparedness, protecting coastal ecosystems, strengthening tourism resilience, and creating economic opportunities through the productive use of sargassum.

Her comments followed her participation in the OECS-European Union Study Visit on Sargassum Management and Valorisation, held in Martinique and Guadeloupe from May 31 to June 5.

Explore innovative approaches to managing Sargassum 

During the study visit, delegates came together to explore innovative approaches to managing the environmental, social, health, and economic impacts of recurring sargassum influxes across the Caribbean. Dr Chalwell-Brewley, along with Ms. Atoya George, a Climate Change Officer within the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change, represented the Virgin Islands. They engaged in technical briefings, site visits, and stakeholder consultations focusing on sargassum interception, collection, monitoring, and utilisation.

In her report, Dr Chalwell-Brewley noted, “The observations and lessons emerging from the study visit may prove useful as the Virgin Islands continues to explore practical and sustainable approaches to sargassum management, environmental protection, coastal resilience, and public health preparedness. Given the increasing frequency of sargassum influxes affecting our coastlines, the study visit provided a timely opportunity to examine approaches being implemented elsewhere. The knowledge gained has direct relevance to ongoing discussions regarding environmental management, public health protection, tourism resilience, fisheries sustainability, and opportunities for the productive utilisation of collected sargassum.” 

Visit forms part of SARSEA initiative

Following the study visit, some key recommendations included assessing the feasibility of air quality monitoring systems in sargassum-prone areas, exploring community-based collection programmes involving fishermen and coastal communities, evaluating the costs and benefits of barriers and barges, and investigating composting opportunities for processed sargassum.

The study visit was part of the SARSEA (Sargassum Regional Strategies for Ecosystem-Based Actions) Initiative, a regional programme supported by the European Union, Agence Française de Développement, Expertise France, and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States.

9 Responses to “Study visit highlights opportunities for stronger sargassum management in VI”

  • Asking For Myself (16/06/2026, 11:51) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    Another study!!!!
  • Wellsah (16/06/2026, 12:48) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    pay the youth man dem to collect and process the sargassum for use in byproducts
  • Work them (16/06/2026, 14:13) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    YOU ALL JUST NATURALIZED A SET OF DOWN ISLAND PEOPLE. LET THEM WORK FOR THEIR STAY HERE IN THE BVI BY CLEANING UP THE SARGASSUM SEAWEEDS, ESPECIALLY THAT SET OF SPANISH MEN WHO ARE SITTING UNDER THE FLAMBOYANT TREE OPPOSITE RITE WAY ON FLEMMING STREET, THOSE WHO ARE SQUATTING AT PROSPECT REEF AND IN BETTITO FRETT BUILDING.
  • Real Talk 284 (16/06/2026, 15:26) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    The Caribbean has been dealing with sargassum for years. By now there should be enough information available to move beyond fact-finding missions and focus on real solutions that residents can see.
    • Wellsah (16/06/2026, 16:39) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      exactly and its like they dont have a claude/chatgpt subscription
  • idea (17/06/2026, 16:19) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Use the prisoners to clean up the costal areas where the sargassum is piling up. Let those worms work for their food and stay at Hotel Balo!!

    Seems like we aren’t doing much of anything around here lately….
    • Wellsah (17/06/2026, 17:32) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      give partna with the gov contract to safari ride them back and forth, give wah she name another contract to have custom prison outfit, another contract to wha she name to feed them snacks, take them to Santo bar after a long hard work day then back to balo!
  • Fran (18/06/2026, 23:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    This sargassum has Hoges Creek all the way to Fat Hog Bobs smelling like a sewer for YEARS! Every time I drive past there, I hold my breath. I don't know how people live and work there daily. Please allow the cleanup ASAP!


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