About This Project

The Caribe Mexicano MPA, home to 50% of the western hemisphere's largest barrier reef, has faced massive Sargassum seaweed influxes for over a decade, causing economic, health, and ecological issues. Our project seeks to foster resilience and empower local youth to address the Sargassum challenge by building their capacity in innovative drone seaweed monitoring and problem-solving through the introduction of school modules focused on Biodesign and seaweed valorization.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Sargassum is a seaweed native to the Atlantic Ocean, which naturally provides shelter and feeding grounds for many species. However, since 2011, unprecedented amounts of Sargassum seaweed have washed up on the shores of many countries, with larger amounts expected due to climate change. These massive Sargassum landings (MSL) are causing unforeseen climatic, health, ecological, and economic problems.

In Mexico, MSL negatively impacts living standards because it is detrimental to tourism and fishing. MSL also negatively affects the Gran Caribe MPA, with documented impacts on coastal birds, marine megafauna, and coral reef ecosystems. Since coastal communities depend heavily on Sargassum-impacted sectors and healthy ecosystems for food security, household income, and livelihoods, Sargassum control has become a critical concern.

What is the significance of this project?

There is currently no system in place to guide and support effective and safe Sargassum management by local communities. Furthermore, the lack of (i) effective local scale monitoring programs, (ii) community awareness of the impacts and origins of the seaweed, and (iii) understanding of Sargassum valorization pathways challenges the creation of a cohesive Sargassum management framework that supports locally-led circular economy models based on Sargassum that elevate local leadership in support of livelihoods, gender justice, and ecosystem health. The proposed project addresses these 3 points by focusing on capacity building in young conservation champions and providing them with the necessary tools to better prepare for MSL and better understand its local impacts. It is critical to have data on local impacts but, most importantly, to have resilient communities to MSL and other climate change-associated challenges.

What are the goals of the project?

Our goal is to reduce the negative impacts associated with massive Sargassum Landings in Mahahual through capacity-building in youth conservation champions. To do this, we will implement a year-long educational methodology that local school directors have allowed us to test. The educational program is focused on the biodesign methodology and will be adapted specifically for coastal communities facing MSL for the first time. Youth will learn hands-on methods and skills throughout the program to support ecosystem conservation, seaweed monitoring, sargassum transformation and valorization, and stakeholder mapping. The final goal of the implementation of this program is for youth to use all of these skills to come up with concrete solutions to address MSL in their community and the MPA. We will analyze all of the data collected through the program regarding Sargassum in Mahahual and evaluate the educational benefits to participants.