SANTO DOMINGO - The Dominican Republic proposed joint working group to Mexico to address the growing sargassum crisis , reinforcing the attention the phenomenon is currently receiving, in which more than 3 million tons of the macroalgae have reached the beaches, releasing irritating gases and negatively affecting marine ecosystems.
According to a Reuters report, the proposal was announced by Roberto Álvarez , the Dominican foreign minister, who explained that it is an effort in response to the growing environmental and economic threat posed by sargassum, which alters ecosystems, affects public health, and erodes tourism , a key driver for the economy of both countries, especially the Dominican Republic.
This inter-institutional working group would involve the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Environment of both countries and reflects the urgency of a joint and coordinated strategy to address this shared challenge. Both countries would work on designing common strategies to mitigate the impact of sargassum on their coasts.
Tourism represents about 15% of the Dominican Republic's GDP, with an estimated value of 21 billion dollars by 2025 , and it is the hotel sector that faces the greatest difficulties in keeping the beaches clean, which impacts occupancy rates in key tourist areas.
Scientists from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) warned in June that sargassum levels in 2025 could be close to double the peak recorded in 2018 , estimating an arrival of 400,000 tons, of which 25% could impact Mexican coasts.
a raw material for biofuels
are being explored , although these projects face obstacles due to the high cost of extracting toxins and heavy metals, as well as the irregularity of arrivals.
This binational effort represents a significant towards a more coordinated and efficient response, with a view to protecting the environment and the Dominican economy in a context of growing climate and ecological challenges.
Suggested next steps
* Formal establishment of the Dominican-Mexican roundtable to coordinate policies and resources.
* Development of common protocols for beach cleanup and environmental management of sargassum.
* Support for technological research that promotes the safe use of sargassum and reduces its impacts.
* Promotion of joint or international financing, given the scarcity of funds and the need for innovation and sustainability.
* Public awareness campaigns, targeting coastal communities and the tourism sector, about the environmental crisis and ongoing actions.
