Sargassum has become one of the Caribbean’s most pressing environmental and tourism challenges. Seasonal influxes affect beaches, marine ecosystems, visitor experiences, public health, fisheries, and local economies, placing increasing pressure on destinations to manage large volumes of seaweed while minimizing environmental impacts and disposal costs.
While much attention has focused on the removal and disposal of sargassum, innovative organizations across the region and internationally are demonstrating that the biomass can become a valuable resource rather than simply a waste product.
Emerging technologies are enabling the transformation of sargassum into fertilizers, biostimulants, construction materials, cosmetics, bioproducts, and other commercial applications, creating opportunities for entrepreneurship, community livelihoods, and circular economy development.
This webinar seeks to shift the regional conversation from managing a problem to creating opportunity, highlighting how tourism destinations can integrate upcycling, innovation, and partnerships into national sargassum strategies.
Objectives
The webinar will:
- Examine the tourism impacts of sargassum across Caribbean destinations.
- Showcase innovative technologies and business models for sargassum upcycling.
- Demonstrate how circular economy principles can create economic value from sargassum.
- Share destination experiences in responding to recurring sargassum events.
- Encourage Member Countries to consider community-based enterprises and private-sector partnerships as part of national response strategies.
- Inspire destinations to see sargassum as an opportunity for resilience, innovation and sustainable development rather than solely an environmental crisis.
Target Audience
- Ministries of Tourism
- Destination Management Organizations
- Environmental agencies
- Coastal and marine managers
- Tourism businesses
- Community organizations
- Entrepreneurs
- Academia and researchers
- Development partners
Key Learning Outcomes
Participants will:
- Understand current regional trends surrounding sargassum.
- Learn practical approaches to integrating sargassum management into tourism planning.
- Explore commercially viable upcycling opportunities.
- Identify partnership opportunities between governments, communities and the private sector.
- Gain ideas that can be adapted within their own destinations.
Proposed Programme (90 mins)
5 mins
Welcome and Opening Remarks — Mrs. Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary-General & CEO, CTO
10 mins
Regional Context: Sargassum Challenges and Emerging Solutions — Director Miosotis Rivas Pena, UN ECLAC
15 mins
Destination Perspective: Belize’s Experience with Sargassum (Challenges, Management and Lessons Learned) — Mr. Andrew Usher
35 mins
Featured Presentation: SOS Biotech — Innovative Technologies and Commercial Applications for Sargassum Upcycling — Dr. Elena Martinez
20 mins
Moderated Discussion: Turning Environmental Challenges into Community Opportunities; Audience Questions & Answers — Moderator: Narendra Ramgulam, Deputy Director Sustainable Tourism, CTO
5 mins
Closing Remarks — Mrs. Sharon Banfield Bovell, Director Resource Mobilization and Development, CTO
Discussion Themes
During the moderated discussion, explore questions such as:
- How can tourism destinations shift from disposal to value creation?
- What policy support is needed to encourage sargassum innovation?
- How can communities benefit economically from sargassum?
- What partnerships are required between tourism, environment and private industry?
- What successful models can be replicated throughout the Caribbean?
Expected Outcomes
Following the webinar, member countries will:
- Better understand innovative approaches to sargassum management.
- Be exposed to scalable technologies suitable for Caribbean destinations.
- Identify opportunities for entrepreneurship and community engagement.
- Consider integrating circular economy approaches into tourism and environmental policies.
- Strengthen regional collaboration on sargassum management.