President Abinader calls for action to deal with sargassum and save the oceans

[Dolores]

In addressing the audience attending the Third UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, President Luis Abinader called for funding and attention to resolve the climate change issue caused by sargassum. Sargassum is impacting fishing and tourism in the Caribbean. President Abinader reminded that this proliferation directly impacts biodiversity, public health, and strategic sectors such as tourism and fishing, which are fundamental pillars of island economies.

“We need this threat to be recognized for what it is: a regional emergency. We must act as the community we are, with shared responsibility and active solidarity. The sea that unites us as a region also calls for a collective response. Therefore, we reiterate our call for the United Nations General Assembly to address this situation urgently and activate a global, coordinated response,” said President Abinader when...

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[Manuel01]

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A "global, coordinated response" might be desirable but will take way to long (should it ever happen).
Until they find a DNA based or chemical Solution, the affected countries have to remove it manually before it reaches the shores.
Doable but very expensive. Because the DR and other affected regions did not really promote the sharing of their income from tourism in the last years
with others. It might be reasonable to believe that non affected countries want care to much about this issue either.

 

[bob saunders]

https://www.caricoos.org/sargassum When part of the problem, perhaps most of the problem is made worse by runoff from agricultural fertilizer and Human waste it will be hard to eliminate.

 

[Ecoman1949]

The more obvious better problem to resolve would be stopping the massive amount of persistent plastics being dumped onto the DR coastline from storm sewers by people too lazy to deposit them in proper garbage cans.

The sargassum is a problem for resort beaches. I don’t think the average Dominican is concerned about it.

 

[Goliath94K]

The more obvious better problem to resolve would be stopping the massive amount of persistent plastics being dumped onto the DR coastline from storm sewers by people too lazy to deposit them in proper garbage cans.

The sargassum is a problem for resort beaches. I don’t think the average Dominican is concerned about it.

We should start putting people in jail for dulping garbage in the river or ocean. ve it a month or whatever.

 

[CristoRey]

https://www.caricoos.org/sargassum When part of the problem, perhaps most of the problem is made worse by runoff from agricultural fertilizer and Human waste it will be hard to eliminate.

Throw 100 Haitians out there and give them rakes/ trash bags/ 3 hots and a temporary cot.
No doubt all the climate crazies would be amazed in a very short span of time.

 

[bob saunders]

The more obvious better problem to resolve would be stopping the massive amount of persistent plastics being dumped onto the DR coastline from storm sewers by people too lazy to deposit them in proper garbage cans.

The sargassum is a problem for resort beaches. I don’t think the average Dominican is concerned about it.

I would say they are judging by the comments I have heard.

 

[drstock]

I am no scientist, but I would have thought that if they collected and dried it, it could be a cheap biofuel.

 

[Manuel01]

I am no scientist, but I would have thought that if they collected and dried it, it could be a cheap biofuel.

You need huge ships for this. This crap is so heavy you want believe it.
And it stinks like hell. Nobody wants this shit closed by.
It's a real problem that can not be solved with a few little fishing vessels.
Think about Ferry type Ship and you come closed.

 

[slinger]

We should start putting people in jail for dulping garbage in the river or ocean. ve it a month or whatever.

I promise to never dulp garbage in a river again.

 

[Jan]

Removing the stuff is only a bandaid on the issue. Have to figure out how to stop the reefs from dying and killing the seaweed.

 

[JD Jones]

The Japanese have just announced the invention of plastic that dissolves in salt water in a very short period.

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/scientists-japan-develop-plastic-that-dissolves-seawater-within-hours-2025-06-04/

If that bears fruit, it will go a long way towards eliminating new plastic waste in oceans.

 

[chico bill]

The more obvious better problem to resolve would be stopping the massive amount of persistent plastics being dumped onto the DR coastline from storm sewers by people too lazy to deposit them in proper garbage cans.

The sargassum is a problem for resort beaches. I don’t think the average Dominican is concerned about it.

Amen. Abinader could improve beaches and rivers by implementing a litter program with fines for littering and public commercials.
The sargassum problem is too big for DR to have much say and countries it does not affect won't even listen

 

[bob saunders]

Removing the stuff is only a bandaid on the issue. Have to figure out how to stop the reefs from dying and killing the seaweed.

Actually the sargassum damages both the reefs and the sea life when it gets too thick or when it dies.

 

[windeguy]

The more obvious better problem to resolve would be stopping the massive amount of persistent plastics being dumped onto the DR coastline from storm sewers by people too lazy to deposit them in proper garbage cans.

The sargassum is a problem for resort beaches. I don’t think the average Dominican is concerned about it.

True, but for the government the revenue from AI resorts can suffer greatly from sargassum clogged beaches.
Hence the importance of dealing with the problem. One with no great solution.

 

[Meemselle]

Sargassum is a natural response to fertilizer runoff and (gasp!) climate change, i.e., increase in water temperatures. Fix that, Luis, and you've fixed your problem. I wish you well.

 

[bob saunders]

A

Sargassum is a natural response to fertilizer runoff and (gasp!) climate change, i.e., increase in water temperatures. Fix that, Luis, and you've fixed your problem. I wish you well.

A lot more complex than that.

https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-01/learn-sargassum-summary.pdf#:~:text=%E2%80%A2%20The%20increased%20growth%20of%20Sargassum%20in%20the,move%20nutrients%20and%20create%20convergence%20of%20algal%20mats.

 

[bob saunders]

And then there is this study which make sense to me. https://eos.org/articles/have-we-finally-found-the-source-of-the-sargassum-surge