Gumbs: Govt commissions Nature Foundation for Sargassum survey

GREAT BAY--Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Patrice Gumbs says government has commissioned the Nature Foundation St. Maarten to conduct a public survey on the impact of sargassum, with the results expected to directly guide future government decisions on how the country manages the recurring seaweed challenge.

The survey, launched by the Nature Foundation on behalf of the Ministry of VROMI, seeks input from residents, business owners and tourists on the Dutch side of the island. It is designed to measure the health, social and economic consequences of sargassum accumulation along St. Maarten’s shorelines.

Minister Gumbs said the growing presence of sargassum has made it necessary for government to gather specific local data before deciding on long-term management measures.

“We commissioned the Nature Foundation to conduct an impact survey on sargassum, which will measure the health effects and economic consequences of sargassum accumulation on our shorelines,” Minister Gumbs said. “The findings will directly guide government in developing a sustainable, evidence-based management strategy.”

Sargassum is a brown macroalgae that can accumulate on beaches and shorelines in large quantities. In recent years, several Caribbean islands have faced increasing challenges related to sargassum buildup, including unpleasant odors, beach access issues, possible health concerns, cleanup costs, and negative effects on tourism and coastal businesses.

Minister Gumbs said the long-standing method of collecting sargassum from beaches remains the most cost-effective option at this stage. However, he noted that the growing scale of the problem is affecting quality of life, public health concerns and the country’s tourism product.

“The long-standing approach to combatting sargassum, collecting it on beaches, is the cheapest, but this seaweed’s growing presence has a negative impact on health, quality of life, and our tourism product,” Minister Gumbs said. “This survey will help in defining a more strategic, long-term plan for managing sargassum.”

The Nature Foundation explained that while residents often point to actions being tested elsewhere in the Caribbean, including floating barriers and the processing of sargassum for cosmetic or building purposes, many of these initiatives remain in pilot phases. They can also require major financial investment and may not be suitable for St. Maarten’s specific environmental and economic circumstances.

“The results of this survey will help St. Maarten stop reacting to sargassum and start planning for it,” a Nature Foundation spokesperson said. “Specific data is vital for the government to make evidence-based decisions for successful and cost-effective actions where it is most needed, rather than hopeful but ultimately expensive, scattered and ineffective initiatives.”

The study is being carried out in collaboration with a research student from Polytech Grenoble INP in France, under the supervision of the Nature Foundation. It also includes on-site sargassum monitoring fieldwork.

According to the Nature Foundation, the survey represents the first phase of a two-step approach to help government identify which mitigation strategies are most effective for St. Maarten.

Minister Gumbs encouraged broad public participation, stressing that the survey will help government better understand how sargassum affects daily life, business operations, tourism activity, and the overall coastal environment.

“I encourage everyone to participate,” Minister Gumbs said. “It takes less than 10 minutes.”

Because the study has been commissioned by the Government of St. Maarten, the data collection is focused on the Dutch side of the island. The questionnaire is available through the Nature Foundation’s official website and social media channels, as well as the VROMI Facebook page and Minister Gumbs’ Facebook page.

The survey can also be accessed at: https://forms.gle/KcZnHoq5JCWZ9FiP7

Government said the data gathered will be used to support a more practical, sustainable and cost-conscious sargassum management strategy, with the aim of protecting public health, supporting tourism, improving quality of life and strengthening long-term environmental planning for St. Maarten.

‍