Barbados has cleared more than 3.6 million pounds of sargassum from its beaches so far this year, according to David Carter, the National Project Coordinator of the Sargassum Seaweed Collection Unit.
About 150 workers are deployed daily across the island's shores, with River Bay in St Lucy, Skeetes Bay in St Philip, and Long Beach in Christ Church identified as the most heavily affected areas. Carter told reporters on Wednesday that the unit has removed roughly 3,500 pounds of sargassum from each beach.
Many of the beaches being prioritised are commercial and resort areas along the southern coastline, where manual cleaning teams work continuously. However, some beaches have experienced gaps in clearing; Enterprise Beach, also known as Miami Beach, has gone weeks without attention, frustrating visitors and local business owners.
Beyond manual removal, authorities are exploring pump harvester technology to extract sargassum from the water before it reaches shore. The equipment uses floating booms and mesh screens to prevent fish and turtles from being drawn into the system, according to Carter.
The unit, which is part of the Ministry of the Environment, is considering this approach because manual sand removal can contribute to coastal erosion. Carter said the harvested sargassum could later be processed for biogas production.
River Bay is the leading candidate for a pump harvester installation due to its relatively calm waters, though Skeetes Bay is also under consideration despite rougher sea conditions that present logistical challenges.
A visiting team from the Dominican Republic was in Barbados exploring sustainable sargassum management practices during the week Carter provided his update.
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