Abstract

Massive, recurring influxes of floating sargassum seaweed have impacted the Wider Caribbean Region, including Puerto Rico, for over a decade. Although pelagic Sargassum spp. serve as essential habitats for marine organisms in open-ocean ecosystems, their excessive accumulation along shorelines has led to substantial ecological, socio-economic, and public health challenges (UNEP-CEP, 2021). Decomposing sargassum degrades water quality and releases hydrogen sulfide, which produces an unpleasant smell and negatively impacts fisheries, tourism, and coastal ecosystems. Mitigation efforts across the region include floating boom barriers, manual and mechanical removal, and valorization initiatives, but these strategies pose logistical, legal, and economic challenges. Specialized infrastructure, funding, and expertise are required for containment, removal, and repurposing. With sargassum influxes being relatively new, most Caribbean nations lack sufficient policy frameworks, management plans, and regulations, resulting in fragmented and reactive responses.

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