(CNS): The government is in the process of finding a solution to the problem of sargassum influxes, as the unsightly, smelly seaweed has again covered the beaches of Grand Cayman’s southern coast, particularly South Sound and Bodden Town, well past the peak months of June and July.
Sargassum is a massive problem for the entire Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, aggravated by nutrient enrichment from runoff, shifting wind patterns, ocean currents and climate change.
Environment Minister Kathy Ebanks-Wilks said that an expedited procurement exercise for a way to deal with the problem would be undertaken, but the goal is to find “a more comprehensive and proactive approach, with a strong emphasis on prevention and early intervention”, not just a reactive response.
Independent opposition member Dwayne Seymour (BTE) raised the issue with a parliamentary question on 5 October, and called it a national emergency. In her response, the minister said that alongside the ongoing clean-up operations, the ministry is progressing a National Sargassum Response Plan with a strong emphasis on prevention.
“This work is informed by research into available solutions and lessons learned across the region, with the objective of ensuring that our National Sargassum Response Plan goes beyond simply responding to impacts post-landfall,” she said.
The widely held belief that there are easy commercial solutions in the region that Cayman is not adopting is erroneous. Emerging industries are struggling to upscale projects because collecting large amounts of sargassum, then cleaning and processing it into gasbricks or fertiliser, is very difficult and expensive for small island states to maintain.
Mexico has invested a whopping US$115 million to tackle influxes along its Caribbean coastline. Meanwhile, the CIG has only paid for piecemeal clean-ups but has not allocated any funds specifically for this problem.
The Department of Environment has stated on numerous occasions that there are no quick fixes to this problem. Staff have been trying out various methods over the last decade to find the most efficient and effective method, and they are veering towards the idea of containing and collecting the sargassum before it reaches the shore.
The minister explained that a procurement exercise for a ‘barrier method’, which is one of the main proposed ideas, is likely to go to tender fairly soon. “While no single measure will eliminate the challenge we face in dealing with sargassum entirely, our approach is designed to reduce its impact on our coastal communities and our natural environment,” she said.
“The existing inter-agency response arrangements remain in place, and departments, such as the Department of Environment, will continue to provide guidance and support to affected landowners while advancing a coordinated national response to this recurring issue.”
Ebanks-Wilks noted the concerns of hoteliers, in Bodden Town in particular, who say there has been a drop in guest numbers as a result of frequent influxes. Resort managers and owners from East End to South Sound have been asking the government to help with the ongoing battle along the southern shoreline.
While clean-up operations are ongoing, there are real concerns that a huge amount of sand is being lost in the process, which will exacerbate the problem of erosion at Cayman’s beaches.
Although the minister could not say when the tender process would begin, she said she would have more information when parliament meets again in November. She also confirmed that some local people and entities have approached the government with proposals.
She said that this matter continues to be discussed in caucus and Cabinet. Work to find the best solution was ongoing, she said, but the ministry is hoping to expedite the procurement process and consider a single-source bid when the right approach is decided on.
Videos and images of both Bodden Town and South Sound have been circulating on social media. Former Cabinet minister Osbourne Bodden, who campaigned on the same party ticket as Ebanks-Wilks, recently posted footage of both areas, raising his concerns about the CIG’s lack of action.