Carib Scope

分类： environment

  • Uncertainties ahead, as 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season starts in El Niño year

    Uncertainties ahead, as 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season starts in El Niño year

    As the Caribbean region gears up for the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season, leaders and climate experts are sounding a clear note of caution: the fate of the region’s critical fisheries and aquaculture sector will not be determined by the storms themselves, but by the level of advance preparation and post-disaster response that stakeholders put in place. Unlike previous hurricane cycles, this year brings an added layer of complexity: the overlapping impacts of El Niño, which carry both short-term risks and long-term consequences for marine resources and fishing communities across the Caribbean.

    Dr. Marc Williams, Executive Director of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), recently outlined the persistent threats facing the $10 billion regional fishing industry. Year after year, hurricane activity inflicts widespread damage that ripples across the entire sector: fishing vessels are wrecked, coastal aquaculture farms are swept away, fish landing sites are destroyed, critical harvesting equipment is lost, and fragile marine ecosystems that underpin catches are left damaged. These disruptions do not stay confined to the water: they directly threaten regional food security, erase the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of small-scale fishers, drag down national coastal economies, and erode the well-being of coastal communities that depend on fishing for survival.

    Despite these well-documented vulnerabilities, Dr. Williams highlighted that the Caribbean fisheries and aquaculture community has repeatedly shown extraordinary resilience, creative innovation, and unwavering determination to rebuild and adapt in the wake of repeated climate shocks. The core takeaway from his remarks is a straightforward but urgent one: proactive preparedness saves lives, protects livelihoods, and cuts the overall cost of recovery after a disaster hits. Moving forward, he emphasized that preparedness must be embedded as a permanent, non-negotiable pillar of all regional and national fisheries and aquaculture development strategies, rather than an afterthought implemented only when a storm is approaching.

    El Niño, the climate pattern defined by anomalous warming of eastern and central Pacific Ocean waters that reshapes global weather systems, presents a paradox for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. On one hand, the prevailing effect of El Niño is increased wind shear across the Atlantic Basin, which typically suppresses the formation and strengthening of tropical storms and hurricanes. But this potential benefit comes with steep costs for Caribbean marine systems: El Niño-driven warmer average sea surface temperatures put extreme thermal stress on coral reefs, which are already struggling with bleaching and degradation from decades of rising global ocean temperatures. As healthy coral reefs are the foundation of most Caribbean fish populations, widespread coral damage would inevitably reduce long-term fish catches and destabilize the entire marine food web.

    The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) echoes this contradictory assessment, noting that El Niño is truly a double-edged sword for Atlantic hurricane activity. While El Niño conditions generally suppress tropical storm formation, the concurrent warmer ocean temperatures and calm low-wind conditions can actually fuel the rapid intensification of any storms that do manage to form. NOAA National Weather Service Director Ken Graham stressed that even with El Niño’s suppressing influence, there is no way to predict with certainty how the 2026 season will unfold. It only takes one major hurricane making landfall to turn a quiet season into a catastrophic one, which is why updating and implementing hurricane preparedness plans well before the season starts is non-negotiable, Graham said.

    To address these overlapping risks, Dr. Williams outlined seven key priority actions that regional governments, industry stakeholders, and development partners must advance immediately. First, governments must invest in strengthening early warning systems that give fishers and aquaculture operators enough advance notice of approaching storms to secure their assets. Second, the sector must scale up adoption of climate-smart fishing and farming practices that reduce vulnerability to extreme weather. Third, regional bodies must enhance fisheries safety protocols and improve the accuracy of marine forecasting for fishing grounds. Fourth, targeted investment is needed to build climate-resilient infrastructure across the entire fisheries value chain, from landing sites to storage facilities. Fifth, agencies at the local, national, and regional levels must strengthen coordination to avoid gaps in preparedness and response. Sixth, interventions must center the needs of marginalized groups that are most vulnerable to climate shocks: small-scale fishers, women working in the fisheries sector, young fishing industry workers, and rural coastal households. Finally, communities need to be equipped with the practical tools, local knowledge, appropriate technology, and ongoing support systems to adapt to changing conditions.

    “Let us enter this hurricane season vigilant, united, and fully prepared,” Dr. Williams urged stakeholders across the region. For stakeholders looking to deepen their understanding of disaster preparedness for Caribbean fisheries, a recent public webinar hosted by the CARICOM Secretariat in partnership with CRFM focused specifically on protecting fisheries assets during natural disasters, and is available for on-demand viewing now.

  • Canada-funded STAR-Fish ramps up clean energy interventions for Caribbean fisheries

    Canada-funded STAR-Fish ramps up clean energy interventions for Caribbean fisheries

    The Caribbean’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors, long foundational pillars of regional food security, livelihoods, and economic growth, face mounting dual pressures: skyrocketing global energy costs and accelerating climate change impacts that threaten the sustainability of small and large fishing operations across the region. In response, the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) is accelerating the rollout of clean energy interventions through its $4.324 million CAD flagship initiative, the STAR-Fish Project, short for Sustainable Technologies for Adaptation and Resilience in Fisheries.

    Eight Caribbean nations are participating in the project: Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname. The core mission of the initiative is to boost both the resilience and market competitiveness of regional fisheries and aquaculture by shifting to low-carbon development models and deploying accessible clean energy infrastructure. Planned interventions span multiple stages of the fisheries value chain, from on-shore processing to distribution: key activities include identifying and rolling out appropriate renewable energy technologies, building energy-efficient cold storage facilities to strengthen cold chain logistics and reduce post-harvest waste, and providing targeted support for participating fisheries to earn international low-carbon sustainability certification.

    At the project’s second Regional Project Steering Committee Meeting, held May 14, 2026, Sherron Barker, the STAR-Fish Project’s Regional Coordinator, formally presented the approved 2026–2027 Work Plan and Budget, which will guide the initiative’s third implementation phase. Near-term priorities outlined in the new work plan include developing bankable, locally adapted business models to attract private and public investment in clean energy technologies, supporting the conversion of existing fossil fuel-powered fish processing facilities to low-carbon energy systems, and expanding market access for fisheries that earn low-carbon certification.

    Ena Ćimić, STAR-Fish Project Lead at the High Commission of Canada to Jamaica, which funds the initiative through Global Affairs Canada (GAC), opened the meeting by acknowledging the outsized role the sector plays across the Caribbean. “The Caribbean’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors are important drivers of economic activity, livelihoods, and food security across the region,” Ćimić noted, adding, “the sectors also remain highly vulnerable to climate change, rising energy costs, and evolving market demands.”
    Ćimić emphasized that the project’s design addresses these vulnerabilities holistically: “The activities implemented through this project position STAR-Fish to further strengthen institutional capacity, advance gender-responsive approaches, and support the adoption of sustainable energy technologies within the fisheries and aquaculture sector, while also improving access to finance, enhancing competitiveness, and building resilience to climate and disaster risks across participating countries.”

    Reflecting on the project’s progress over the previous implementation year, CRFM Secretariat Executive Director Dr. Marc Williams noted that the second year marked a critical turning point for the initiative, moving from foundational planning and research to coordinated, on-the-ground implementation across all participating nations. Key technical milestones achieved in the prior year included advancing work on renewable energy business model development, standardized carbon footprint measurement for fisheries operations, and establishing frameworks for low-carbon certification. One of the most significant achievements of the reporting period, Dr. Williams highlighted, was the completion of groundbreaking work on gender equality and social inclusion in the clean energy transition for Caribbean fisheries. This work has deepened regional understanding of how gender and social disparities shape access to the benefits of clean energy upgrades, supported the development of national and regional Gender Action Plans (GAPs) for Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and expanded gender-responsive capacity building and inclusive stakeholder engagement across all participating countries.

    GAC has welcomed the project’s intentional gender-inclusive approach, Ćimić confirmed, noting that this focus is critical to ensuring that the gains of the clean energy transition are shared equitably across all segments of fishing communities. “This aligns with Canada’s priorities of advancing gender equality, climate action, and sustainable, inclusive growth, while also supporting expanded trade opportunities in the region,” she said, reaffirming GAC’s long-term commitment to supporting the CRFM-led initiative.

    As the project enters its third implementation year, Dr. Williams noted that the initiative now has all the foundational structures in place to deliver tangible results: “We enter Project Year 3 with activities underway, strengthened governance arrangements, and a clearer pathway toward the practical application of renewable energy solutions across fisheries value chains in the Caribbean.”
    Ćimić closed the meeting by reaffirming the shared commitment of all partners to the project’s mission: “We look forward to continuing to work with all of you to support effective implementation and to contribute to a more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive Caribbean fisheries sector.”

  • Caribbean delegation visits Martinique and Guadeloupe to examine Sargassum management strategies

    Caribbean delegation visits Martinique and Guadeloupe to examine Sargassum management strategies

    For more than a decade, massive, recurring blooms of sargassum seaweed have plagued the small island developing nations of the Caribbean, leaving widespread damage in their wake. These invasive influxes disrupt fragile coastal ecosystems, threaten marine biodiversity, trigger public health concerns from rotting biomass, and undermine the economic stability of communities that rely heavily on coastal tourism and fishing. Now, a coordinated regional effort is bringing stakeholders together to share proven solutions and strengthen collective action against this transboundary threat.

    Following recent regional meetings for the Sargassum Regional Strategies for Ecosystem-based Actions (SARSEA) project in Dominica, a delegation representing nine Caribbean states and territories under the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has launched a four-day technical study mission, running from June 1 to 4, 2026, in the French Caribbean territories of Martinique and Guadeloupe. The core goals of the mission are to examine locally developed sargassum management frameworks and explore viable pathways to turning harvested seaweed into marketable, value-added products.

    Supported jointly by the European Union and the OECS, the initiative forms part of long-standing regional collaboration aimed at fostering cross-border knowledge exchange and building more robust collective responses to the overlapping environmental, economic and public health harms caused by repeated sargassum landings. Over the years, Martinique and Guadeloupe have built comprehensive, multi-faceted strategies covering every stage of sargassum management, from open-ocean monitoring and early warning to large-scale collection, risk mitigation and innovative processing of harvested seaweed into useful goods. The mission gives delegates the chance to observe these strategies in action, hold direct discussions with local public and private stakeholders, and map out opportunities for deeper regional coordination on the shared challenge.

    The first half of the itinerary is focused on technical visits and demonstrations across Martinique, spanning June 1 and 2. On opening day in Le François, the delegation will start with a morning tour of offshore containment barriers and dedicated collection barges, followed by an afternoon visit to two air quality monitoring sites run by local operator Madininair. The day will conclude with a formal presentation on sargassum monitoring systems and early-warning tools at Le François Town Hall.

    On June 2, the schedule moves to Le Vauclin, where delegates will first join guided tours of manual sargassum collection sites at Macabou and Pointe Faula, led by representatives of local organization ACI. After a working meeting with GIP and ACI representatives at Le Vauclin Town Hall, the group will travel back to Le François to visit Holdex, a local company pioneering commercial and innovative applications for processed sargassum. The Martinique portion of the program will close with a presentation on ongoing initiatives to develop value-added sargassum products, delivered by Dominique Bœuf of SARA/SERD. After concluding the Martinique leg, the delegation will travel to Guadeloupe for the final two days of the mission, June 3 and 4, to continue learning from that territory’s management approaches.

    The entire mission is backed by the SARSEA project, which receives funding from the Agence Française de Développement and is implemented through a partnership between Expertise France and the OECS Commission. SARSEA’s core mandate is to build technical capacity across the Caribbean, strengthen regional governance frameworks for sargassum management, and promote ecosystem-centered approaches to addressing the bloom crisis.

    Event organizers emphasize that the study mission underscores Martinique and Guadeloupe’s commitment to sharing their hard-won experience with neighboring Caribbean territories through a foundation of cross-border cooperation, collective solidarity, and innovative problem-solving. Echoing this collaborative spirit, an OECS representative participating in the mission noted that sargassum is a transboundary problem that does not respect national borders. “By combining our knowledge, expertise and resources, we can better protect our coastlines, our economies and our communities,” the representative said.

  • Grenada hosts validation workshop

    Grenada hosts validation workshop

    On June 1, 2026, Grenada’s Ministry of Climate Resilience, the Environment and Renewable Energy marked a major milestone in the island nation’s ongoing push to strengthen climate preparedness, hosting a full stakeholder validation workshop for the *Citizen’s Guide to Climate Change Adaptation for Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique* at St. George’s Kirani James Athletic Stadium.

    The workshop gathered a cross-section of key actors, from senior government ministry and agency officials to civil society leaders, community organizers, academic researchers, youth delegates, and international development partners. The group’s core task was to review and sign off on the revised draft of the guide before it enters its final editing stage and official public release. This validation session forms an integrated part of the ministry’s broader work to boost public awareness, inclusive participation, and collective ownership of climate adaptation initiatives outlined in Grenada’s updated 2025–2030 National Adaptation Plan (NAP).

    The revised draft presented at the June workshop was built on iterative stakeholder feedback collected during an earlier Focus Group Session held on April 27, 2026. During that initial meeting, participants conducted a line-by-line review of the guide’s zero draft and submitted detailed recommendations to refine its structure, accessibility, clarity, on-the-ground relevance, and practical usability. All of these suggestions were integrated into the revised version, with key updates including simplified, jargon-free language, clearer alignment with national climate adaptation priorities, real-world examples of actionable adaptation measures, and enhanced visual design to make the content more approachable for general readers.

    In his opening address to attendees, Permanent Secretary Peron Johnson emphasized that the core mission of the guide is to demystify national climate policy for everyday Grenadians. “The National Adaptation Plan is a critical national framework for building resilience across all sectors of our economy and society. However, formal policy documents can often be highly technical and inaccessible to the average person. The Citizen’s Guide is intended to bridge that gap by translating complex adaptation concepts into information that households, communities, schools, businesses, civil society organisations, and citizens can understand, relate to, and act upon.”

    Johnson went on to stress that climate resilience cannot be delivered by the government alone; it requires collective, informed engagement from every segment of Grenadian society. “Climate resilience will only be achieved when adaptation becomes everyone’s business. This Guide is designed to empower citizens with the knowledge needed to understand climate risks, identify opportunities for action, and contribute meaningfully to building a more resilient Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.”

    National Adaptation Plan Officer Dr. Roxanne Graham-Victor highlighted that inclusive stakeholder engagement has been central to the guide’s entire development process, noting that the validation workshop was a critical step to ensure the final document meets the practical needs of its target audience. “The objective of this process is to ensure that the Guide is clear, practical, accessible, and useful to the people it is intended to serve. Stakeholder feedback remains central to achieving that objective,” she explained.

    Acting Director of Climate Resilience Titus Antoine added that the guide will serve as a cornerstone public resource to support full implementation of the National Adaptation Plan and deepen ongoing public participation in national climate action.

    The ministry extended formal gratitude to all workshop participants for their input and sustained commitment to advancing Grenada’s climate resilience goals. It also gave special recognition to the National Adaptation Plan Global Network and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for their long-standing technical and financial support to strengthen Grenada’s adaptation planning systems and make the development of the Citizen’s Guide possible.

    Following the conclusion of the workshop, the guide’s drafting team will implement the final round of stakeholder recommendations. Once finalized, the document will be distributed across all three islands as a foundational public resource to support climate adaptation education, awareness, and local action.

  • New Ranger Base Strengthens Chiquibul Protection Efforts

    New Ranger Base Strengthens Chiquibul Protection Efforts

    On May 29, 2026, Belize took a major step forward in protecting its most ecologically critical protected area, with Prime Minister John Briceño officially opening a new ranger outpost deep in the heart of Chiquibul National Park. Traveling by helicopter to the remote forest site, the prime minister marked the launch of an expanded conservation initiative led by the non-profit co-manager of the park, Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD), to safeguard the region’s irreplaceable natural and cultural heritage.

    Chiquibul National Park, Belize’s largest protected area, spans hundreds of thousands of acres of dense, biodiverse rainforest across the Maya Mountains. It serves as the primary watershed for much of the country, supplying clean drinking water to communities as far as Belize City, yet it faces persistent threats from illegal activity. During the inauguration, Prime Minister Briceño paid tribute to the rangers who work on the frontlines of protection, noting that most Belizeans are unaware of the daily risks and critical work these conservation stewards undertake to preserve the nation’s natural resources.

    FCD, the grassroots non-profit that has managed conservation programming in Chiquibul and its surrounding buffer zones since 2007, leads the effort through a combination of on-the-ground patrols, targeted ecological research, and community outreach to curb illegal activity and protect biodiversity. Rafael Manzanero, FCD’s Executive Director, explained that the newly opened facility is a temporary base that meets basic living needs for rangers, as the organization lays out long-term plans for a permanent, purpose-built hub. Manzanero noted that FCD has identified five potential sites for the permanent base in the surrounding area, but additional fundraising will be required to complete the construction of a fully functional operations center.

    From this new forward operating position, FCD rangers will patrol thousands of acres of remote forest that have long been plagued by a range of threats. These include illegal cattle ranching, cross-border encroachment, poaching of vulnerable wildlife species, and widespread land degradation driven by unregulated agricultural expansion. Prime Minister Briceño emphasized the outsized ecological importance of the region, reminding the public that much of the tap water accessed by residents in Belize City originates from the Chiquibul watershed – a connection many people take for granted in their daily lives.

    Prior to the opening of the new base, FCD’s ranger team operated out of the longstanding Tapir Camp facility inside the forest reserve. For the organization, relocating operations was not a small decision: Tapir Camp had become a core part of FCD’s institutional identity over decades of conservation work. Susana Vanzie, FCD’s President, acknowledged that the prospect of moving was initially daunting for the team. “Tapir Camp had become part of our identity. We were so tied to it. So the thought of having to move somewhere else was daunting. But change can also bring opportunity and if there is that window for opportunity you have to know when to take that leap of faith,” Vanzie said.

    The new ranger base represents a tangible, significant milestone in ongoing efforts to strengthen protection of one of Belize’s most vital and at-risk ecosystems. Leaders and conservationists alike believe the improved positioning will allow rangers to respond more quickly to threats, expand patrol coverage, and better preserve the Chiquibul region for future generations. Reporting for News Five, Paul Lopez contributed to this report.

  • Matawai Traditioneel Gezag en planetGOLD Suriname in gesprek over duurzame goudwinning

    Matawai Traditioneel Gezag en planetGOLD Suriname in gesprek over duurzame goudwinning

    In a landmark step toward equitable, environmentally responsible gold extraction in Suriname, the Traditional Authority of the Matawai people and representatives from the planetGOLD Suriname project have held their first formal collaborative dialogue focused on sustainable gold mining, community-led development and conservation of local ecosystems.

    Hosted at Oxygen Resort, the meeting laid the foundational groundwork for a long-term engagement process centered on mutual trust, inclusive community participation, and full respect for the Matawai people’s traditional governance and decision-making structures. The session was organized jointly by planetGOLD Suriname and the Foundation for Research and Development in Caribbean Communities, bringing together Matawai leadership, project partners and a broad range of cross-sector stakeholders.

    Attendees received a detailed overview of the planetGOLD initiative’s core objectives. This global program is specifically designed to advance responsible and sustainable practices in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), with a key priority of cutting mercury use—a pervasive environmental and public health hazard in the small-scale mining sector. Beyond reducing mercury pollution, the initiative works to minimize broader ecological damage from mining activities, improve unsafe working conditions for mining workers, and strengthen the voice and agency of local communities that are directly impacted by gold extraction operations.

    The focus on collaborative governance with Indigenous and tribal communities is particularly relevant for Suriname, where a large share of the country’s gold production takes place on or adjacent to lands stewarded by tribal and Indigenous groups like the Matawai. For this reason, meaningful partnership with traditional authorities and local communities is a non-negotiable core component of the planetGOLD Suriname project’s approach.

    In alignment with the Matawai community’s long-standing decision-making frameworks, traditional leaders were given extended space to raise questions, highlight priority concerns, and share their community’s collective vision for responsible resource management. Discussions covered a range of critical topics, including the potential impacts of mining expansion on ancestral territories, natural resource protection, and long-term community development outcomes.

    The entire dialogue unfolded in an open, constructive atmosphere, with all participants centering mutual respect for Matawai culture, traditions and community interests. The agenda included a formal project presentation, an extended question-and-answer session, an internal deliberation by Matawai traditional leaders, and a collective discussion of potential collaborative models moving forward.

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    Participants across all groups emphasized the critical need to sustain ongoing dialogue between project implementers, local communities and traditional authorities through every stage of the initiative. They underlined that lasting, sustainable solutions can only succeed if they are rooted in and responsive to the unique needs, lived experiences and expectations of the Matawai community that calls the mining region home.

    This introductory meeting marks the official starting point of a process that will center participation, transparency and shared accountability for all stakeholders moving forward. All key insights and concerns raised during the dialogue will be integrated into the next phases of project planning and implementation.

    Overall, the first formal gathering has established a solid foundation for continued partnership between planetGOLD Suriname and the Matawai Traditional Authority, aligned around shared goals of sustainable development, responsible stewardship of natural resources, and meaningful community participation in all decision-making processes related to gold mining.

  • Briceño Orders Development Time-Out to Protect Fragile Coastlines

    Briceño Orders Development Time-Out to Protect Fragile Coastlines

    In a bold, forward-thinking move to balance economic growth and environmental stewardship, Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño has enacted a nationwide development pause to safeguard the nation’s ecologically vulnerable coastal regions. Starting in advance of widespread projected expansion driven by international developer interest, the government has halted the approval of all new construction and development permits across four high-priority coastal hotspots: Placencia, San Pedro, Hopkins, and Caye Caulker.

    This temporary moratorium, implemented through Belize’s Ministry of Housing and Physical Planning, is not intended to end all development in the country. Instead, it gives policymakers and conservation experts time to conduct a comprehensive, evidence-based review of which coastal landscapes require permanent protection, and what types of projects align with Belize’s long-term national vision for sustainable growth. Briceño emphasized that the proactive step is designed to address environmental risks before unchecked damage occurs, rather than reacting to irreversible harm after the fact.

    The review process has already extended to proposed projects in the remote Sapodilla Cayes, a biologically diverse marine protected area that has drawn growing attention from conservation and tourism groups. Briceño confirmed that the government is already evaluating a proposed partnership between global high-end sustainable tourism NGO Wilderness, a leading U.S. research institution, and the University of Belize (U.B.). While the project centers on conservation-aligned development, it will still face heightened scrutiny under the new moratorium framework.

    “Any development in these sensitive coastal zones has to be balanced and measured,” Briceño stated in comments included in an evening television news broadcast. “We cannot allow unregulated extreme dredging and destructive forms of expansion that threaten the ecosystems that make Belize’s coastlines so valuable.” The prime minister added that the temporary pause reflects a clear, deliberate line the government is drawing between thoughtful economic growth and reckless expansion that endangers Belize’s natural capital.

    As international demand for coastal development in Caribbean tourism destinations continues to rise, Belize’s policy shift marks a significant test of whether small island nations can prioritize long-term environmental health over short-term economic gains. Conservation groups have broadly welcomed the move as a critical step toward protecting Belize’s barrier reef system and coastal habitats, which underpin the country’s $1.5 billion tourism industry and support thousands of local livelihoods.

  • Marine spatial plan bus hits road to boost public awareness

    Marine spatial plan bus hits road to boost public awareness

    On a Friday launch event held at the Garrison, the Caribbean nation of Barbados introduced an innovative public outreach tool: a custom-branded ‘moving classroom’ designed to bridge the gap between policymakers and local communities when it comes to marine conservation and sustainable ocean management. The core mission of this mobile initiative is to expand public understanding of the Barbados Marine Spatial Plan, a national framework that will shape the future of the island’s ocean resources, and make conversations about marine policy accessible to people across every corner of the country, rather than limiting them to closed-door conference rooms and technical consultations.

    Speaking at the official unveiling, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment Santia Bradshaw emphasized that the initiative is far more than a simple branded vehicle. For Bradshaw and the government team behind the project, the bus is a mobile educational hub that brings discussions of ocean stewardship directly to Barbadians, regardless of their location or connection to marine policy. ‘This bus is more than a vehicle. It is what we consider a moving classroom, bringing the ocean to the people of this island and to those who visit,’ Bradshaw stated during her address.

    She explained that the project will break down the barriers that have long kept discussions of marine sustainability, climate resilience, and ocean governance confined to technical documents and elite policy circles. By traveling to communities across Barbados, the bus will create space for ordinary residents to learn about the national plan, ask questions of policymakers, and contribute input that shapes how the island’s marine resources are used and protected in the decades ahead. ‘Every journey that this bus makes is another opportunity to raise awareness, to learn more about the Barbados Marine Spatial Plan, and also to look at how we can help to shape the future of our ocean space,’ Bradshaw added.

    The environment minister stressed that marine spatial planning is not an abstract technical policy that only affects industry or scientists – it is a framework that touches the daily life of every single Barbadian. As a small island nation, Barbados’ entire economy and cultural way of life are inextricably linked to the surrounding ocean, supporting critical sectors from tourism and commercial fishing to food security and household livelihoods. Effective marine planning is essential to balancing the competing demands for ocean space, from conservation and recreation to renewable energy development and economic growth. ‘At its core, the marine spatial plan is about ensuring that we use our marine space responsibly, sustainably and fairly, balancing conservation, tourism, fisheries, recreation, renewable energy, economic opportunity and climate resilience,’ Bradshaw noted.

    Minister of Finance Ryan Straughn reinforced this perspective during the event, underlining the deeply intertwined relationship between environmental stewardship and long-term national economic development. Straughn pushed back against the long-held idea that environmental protection and economic growth must be addressed as separate, often competing priorities, noting that Barbados has embraced an integrated, cross-cutting approach to national policy that recognizes the value of natural assets as the foundation of economic prosperity.

    ‘There’s no separation between finance and environmental sustainability,’ Straughn said. He pointed out that Barbados’ marine territory supports nearly every pillar of the national economy, from tourism and the fast-growing blue economy to shipping, coastal protection, private investment, recreation, and widespread livelihoods across communities. As a small island developing state that is disproportionately vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and sea-level rise, Straughn argued that Barbados has no choice but to both protect its irreplaceable marine assets and use them responsibly to support current and future generations.

    ‘We have to treasure our assets, protect those assets, but also utilise those assets to ensure that our citizens can sustain themselves and their families and communities,’ Straughn said. He concluded by noting that how Barbados manages its marine resources as an independent republic will be a defining factor in building national climate resilience and ensuring that all future development is rooted in long-term sustainability that benefits all Barbadians.

  • Major plans for fight against sargassum

    Major plans for fight against sargassum

    As a massive annual sargassum seaweed bloom continues to endanger key coastal sectors across Barbados, the island nation’s government is accelerating its mitigation strategy – with a new focus on intercepting the invasive algae before it reaches shore. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment Santia Bradshaw outlined the expanded response during Friday’s launch of an educational outreach bus focused on Barbados’ Marine Spatial Plan at the Garrison, where she emphasized the growing environmental and economic toll the persistent influx has placed on the island.

    Bradshaw noted that the recurring sargassum blooms, which have plagued Barbados’ waters since 2011, pose far-reaching threats to the country’s most valuable marine and coastal assets. “This valuable marine space also faces very real threats,” she explained. “Sargassum seaweed influxes continue to impact our beaches, fisheries, coastal communities, and tourism product, while coastal erosion exacerbated by accumulated blooms threatens our infrastructure, our ecosystems, and our vulnerable shorelines across the island. These challenges remind us why careful planning and sustainable management of our marine environment are so critical.”

    To date, the Barbadian government has already rolled out a series of coordinated onshore interventions to address the crisis. This includes hiring contract workers to carry out regular beach cleanups, and partnering with international organizations and foreign governments to scale up mechanized removal efforts for more efficient, large-scale clearance. “This includes engaging contract workers to support the cleanup efforts and collaborating with international agencies such as the UNDP and countries such as Japan to increase the use of mechanized equipment for more efficient and large-scale sargassum removal,” Bradshaw said.

    Moving beyond immediate cleanup actions, the government has spent years pursuing long-term, locally tailored solutions to the decade-long problem. Since Bradshaw took on the environment portfolio, her team has held consultations with partner nations, multilateral development bodies including the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and local industry and community stakeholders to develop homegrown strategies that fit Barbados’ unique coastal context.

    The next major pillar of the national strategy will be offshore collection, a proactive measure designed to cut down the volume of sargassum that actually washes up on Barbados’ coastlines. Bradshaw confirmed that government officials have already entered discussions with a team of specialized marine experts, who will work alongside local stakeholders to map out the most cost-effective, efficient operational model for offshore interception, with implementation expected to begin in the coming months.

    The shift to expanded, proactive action comes as officials warn that 2024’s sargassum bloom is on track to be one of the most severe on record. “It is clear that more systematic action is needed, especially as this year’s bloom is expected to reach record levels, affecting lives, livelihoods, and coastal communities,” Bradshaw added.

    Alongside the mitigation strategy updates, Friday’s event marked the launch of a mobile educational bus centered on Barbados’ Marine Spatial Plan. The outreach vehicle will travel across the island to raise public awareness of marine conservation issues, and reinforce the critical importance of protecting Barbados’ coastal resources for current and future generations.

  • Antigua and Barbuda Officials Complete Regional Training on Hazardous Pesticide Management

    Antigua and Barbuda Officials Complete Regional Training on Hazardous Pesticide Management

    In a targeted move to boost regional capacity for controlling dangerous agricultural chemicals, three technical staff from Antigua and Barbuda’s Department of Analytical Services have graduated from a specialized regional training program focused on improved management of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) across the Caribbean. The department confirmed that participants Laël Bertide-Josiah, Alexandra Hughes and J’herdine Browne took part in the two-day hybrid workshop, branded “Development of an Effect-Cause-Action (ECA-G) Tool for Highly Hazardous Pesticide Management in the Caribbean”, which was held May 26–27 at The Verandah Resort & Spa in Antigua.

    The capacity-building event was organized by the Basel Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for the Caribbean (BCRC-Caribbean), and forms a core activity under the Global Environment Facility’s ISLANDS 10279 Project, a regional initiative focused on addressing environmental challenges in small island developing states.

    Per official statements from the Department of Analytical Services, the training was designed to strengthen consistent implementation of multiple multilateral environmental agreements linked to chemical control and waste management across the Caribbean region. Over the course of the workshop, the three local participants joined dozens of regional subject matter experts and industry stakeholders in collaborative discussions centered on improving systems to identify and regulate HHPs, while systematically evaluating the far-reaching harms these chemicals pose to human health, regional ecosystems, and national economic performance.

    The program curriculum balanced theoretical learning with hands-on practical application, covering technical modules ranging from HHP identification and routine environmental monitoring, to quantitative analysis of economic impacts, environmental risk mapping, and evidence-based mitigation strategies to cut the public health and ecological dangers tied to unregulated hazardous pesticide use.

    Department officials emphasized that this training initiative aligns with broader national and regional goals to elevate environmental governance, strengthen chemical safety standards, and advance sustainable development across Antigua and Barbuda and the wider Caribbean region. The department also formally extended its gratitude to supporting partners, including BCRC-Caribbean, the technical team from the University of the West Indies, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), whose collaboration made the capacity-building event possible.