For over a decade, the Caribbean coastlines have been grappling with extensive sargassum seaweed blooms, severely impacting fishing, tourism, and local communities. These blooms have caused economic losses amounting to millions of dollars, according to a recent media statement. In a bid to address this environmental challenge, the European Union (EU), through its Global Gateway Investment Agenda, has joined forces with Team Europe and Caribbean partners to turn the crisis into an opportunity for cleaner beaches, job creation, and the growth of local enterprises. The third edition of the EU-Caribbean Global Gateway Conference, held recently, focused exclusively on sargassum, shifting from research and pilot projects to actionable solutions. The conference brought together representatives from governments, the private sector, academia, and international financial institutions to discuss sustainable management and economic utilization of sargassum. Jozef Síkela, the EU’s Commissioner for International Partnerships, highlighted the initiative’s potential to transform the crisis into a source of jobs, innovation, and clean energy. During the event, Grenada, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico pledged to collect and process a combined total of 660,000 tonnes of sargassum between 2026 and 2027. This ambitious commitment marks the first step toward creating a regional market for sargassum-derived products, supported by EU initiatives to attract investment and develop sustainable policies. The conference concluded with the announcement of a fourth EU-Caribbean Global Gateway Conference on Sargassum, to be held in Mexico, ensuring continued momentum in scaling up solutions across the Caribbean.
Global Gateway Forum: EU Collab to develop value chains, create employment opportunities in region with Sargassum
