regional cooperation to face sargassum influx …...nasa, french ird, gcfi governments international...

Regional cooperation on the Sargassum influx around the Wider Caribbean

Frédérique Fardin, Anne Fontaine, Alessandra Vanzella-Khouri, Karen Mc Donald Gayle

Sargassum Regional ConferenceSession 3, Moskito Island, BVI

SPAW-RAC/UNEP-CEP, Sargassum Regional Conference, Moskito Island, BVI 2

Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea

28 Countries (37 States and Territories)

23 ratified the Convention~2.7 millions km2

16 ratified the SPAW Protocol

The Cartagena Convention: Geographic Scope

Cartagena ConventionAdopted 1983

Entered into force 1986

Cartagena ConventionAdopted 1983

Entered into force 1986

Oil Spills ProtocolAdopted 1983

Entered into Force 1986

Oil Spills ProtocolAdopted 1983

Entered into Force 1986

Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife Protocol

Adopted 1990Entered into Force 2000

Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife Protocol

Adopted 1990Entered into Force 2000

Land-based Sources of Marine Pollution Protocol

Adopted 1999

Land-based Sources of Marine Pollution Protocol

Adopted 1999

What is the SPAW protocol?

3SPAW-RAC/UNEP-CEP, Sargassum Regional Conference, Moskito Island, BVI

Sargassum issue : a new mandate

8th Conference of the Parties of the SPAW Protocol (Cartagena, December 2014)

The Parties agreed to add into the Work plan 2015-2016 an activity related to the Sargassum influx


SPAW-RAC initiatives since January 2015

• Identification of regional efforts and initiatives on

the Sargassum issue

• Support for collaborations and group discussions


•Massive and continuous period of Sargassum

influx between 2014 and the end of 2015

Growing concern about the Sargassum issue since 2014


• Increase in communication

•Massive and continuous period of Sargassum

influx between 2014 and the end of 2015

7

Growing concern about the Sargassum issue since 2014

SPAW-RAC/UNEP-CEP, Sargassum Regional Conference, Moskito Island, BVI

CancunSargassum session LAC

LME


LME

Sargassum session

GCFI

Sargassum session

GCFI

Barbados Sargassum Symposium


GalvestonSargassum Symposium


Sargassum-related events since 2015



LME


LME

Sargassum session

GCFI

Sargassum session

GCFI



AntiguaOECS

Ministerial Council

AntiguaOECS

Ministerial Council

TrinidadACS / CMC

Symposium

TrinidadACS / CMC

Symposium



Sargassum-related events since 2015

Sierra LeoneRegional

expert meeting

Sierra LeoneRegional

expert meeting

HaïtiACS

Ministerial Council

HaïtiACS

Ministerial Council


Development of a growing networkResearch sector

University of Southern Mississippi, University of the West Indies, Florida Atlantic University, Texas A&M University, NASA, French IRD, GCFI

GovernmentsInternational Organizations

UNEP, Sargasso Sea Commission, Abidjan Convention

NGO, AssociationsWIDECAST, Waitt Institute

Private sectorEquipment suppliers, Tourism industry, Fishery


Sargassum on-line forum

0bjectives• gather the stakeholders, • gather and share information and experiences,• make links to other relevant partners,• promote discussion on specific issues.


Documents stored, Discussions, Calendar



Do not wait anymore to join us!

More than thirty territories are already part of the network



Our plan for 2016

On-going activities : • Cooperation with West Africa• Collaboration with international organizations• Encourage collaboration between research projects• Encourage and share feedback (impacts and

responses)• Gather and circulate scientific and technical

information


Our plan for 2016

• Develop a survey about the situation in the Caribbean

countries (impact, cost, governmental response, research)

• Develop synthesis on collect equipment and re-use

possibilities

• Collaborate for the organization of international meetings

• Form a regional Sargassum committee Regional strategy to face to the sargassum influx


Thank you for your attention!To join the on-line forum, please send an email to

[email protected]

mentioning your full name, organization and position.

Visit our websites : SPAW/RAC : www.car-spaw-rac.org

CEP/UNEP : www.cep.unep.org16