After collecting 14,000 tonnes in 2024, Saint-Martin is doubling its budget to fight against sargassum seaweed. 14,000 tons… That’s the volume of sargassum seaweed collected last year in Saint-Martin… A particularity this year is that the strandings, while not always massive, are continuous. The Collectivity is refining its efforts to combat the brown algae. Among the actions under consideration is a temporary evacuation plan in case of strong gas emissions.<\/p>\n
Sargassum seaweed is primarily affecting the east coast of Saint Martin. In Cul-de-Sac, the first strandings were observed as early as April, nearly five months earlier than usual. The volume of brown algae is significant, although no massive influx has yet been recorded.<\/p>\n
The algae collected from five different sites are transferred directly to a storage area, which had already received 14,000 tonnes last year.<\/p>\n
This way of working, combined with a notable resurgence of sargassum, has led to a doubling of the allocated budget, from 1.2 to 2.4 million euros.<\/p>\n
After a long period of deliberation, the decision to install deflecting nets to protect the coastline has been finalized. However, the 400 linear meters initially planned are no longer sufficient.<\/p>\n
Nine hundred meters of barriers would be needed to effectively protect Cul-de-Sac Bay, as well as the mouth of the pond aux Poissons, in order to prevent sargassum rafts from infiltrating there<\/i> ,” explains Igor Rambotte, director of the environment for the community of Saint-Martin.<\/p>\n
The analysis of the bids is currently underway. ” A tender commission should meet by the end of June. This will allow us, as a community, to launch the deployment of these dams by the end of 2025 or the beginning of 2026<\/i> ,” he adds.<\/p>\n
In parallel, surveillance cameras and toxic emission sensors are planned to allow for a real-time response. But the local authority, with the support of the state, is also anticipating an extreme scenario: one in which residents would be exposed for several days to a level of toxic gas exceeding health thresholds, due to the decomposition of sargassum seaweed.<\/p>\n
” We are working on developing a roadmap that could be triggered if these thresholds are exceeded, so that the population can benefit from temporary safe places while the emissions are absorbed<\/i> ,” explains Igor Rambotte.<\/p>\n
Saint-Martin is now considered a model for sargassum management in the Caribbean. However, residents of the affected areas still have to contend with particularly unpleasant odors for much of the year.<\/p>\n
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