Abstract

Since 2011, massive strandings of pelagic Sargassum have occurred along many coastlines across the Caribbean. In response to the associated socio-economic impacts (e.g. disruption of the tourism and fishing sectors, a reduction in the quality of life of coastal communities, and concern about health issues) and environmental impacts (e.g. coastal erosion, disturbance of critical nearshore habitats, disruption of turtle nesting) (see Doyle and Franks 2016), a variety of mitigation actions have been implemented to cope with this new phenomenon in the region. Although there has been considerable diversity in the Sargassum-related experiences across the Caribbean, the observed management responses have generally been reactive, uncoordinated and not always sustainable. This has highlighted the need for better coordination and sharing of information and experiences to develop best management practices to deal with this new, and likely reoccurring phenom-enon within the region. Here, as a compliment to existing publications by Doyle and Franks (2015) and Hinds et al. (2016), we share sustainable management recommendations for coping with mass strandings of Sargassum seaweed, based on lessons learnt to date from around the region.

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