The influx of the sargassum seaweed is once again causing concern for members of the Virgin Islands community, namely those working in the tourism industry, fisherfolks and the frequent beach visitors. Photo: VINO/File

The Government of the Virgin Islands recently concluded a two-day training of trainer’s workshop for stakeholders in sargassum management. Photo: GIS

Acting Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, Mr Mervin D. Hastings said the Government of the Virgin Islands is constantly on the move to mitigate the issue of sargassum, through clean-up initiatives, trainings and workshops with stakeholders, as well as public awareness initiatives.

He said the topic of sargassum is one which is continuously being discussed not only locally or regionally but also in other parts of the world and is costing Governments millions of dollars to address.

Get sensitised- Hastings

Mr Hastings in  Government Information Services (GIS) press release on August 15, 2023, said: “The purpose of educating the community is, that together we, in the Virgin Islands, along with our regional and international counterparts can find a solution to this costly and concerning issue.” He is also urging the community to sensitise themselves with the topic of Sargassum in order to understand and adequately navigate the issue.

Earlier this year, representatives from multiple organisations including the BVI Tourist Board, National Parks Trust of the Virgin Islands, Unite BVI and BVI Ports Authority attended a two-day training of trainer’s workshop in sargassum management.

The training was a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change; the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) and the University of the West Indies Centre for Resources Management and Environmental Studies (UWI-CERMES).

The focus was also to increase understanding of the science of sargassum, its origins and ecological value, the principles of adaptive management, selection of tools and approaches for monitoring, and the clean-up and rehabilitation of affected areas.