Castries, October 23 (Prensa Latina) The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission here announced today that the group is studying solutions to stop the harmful effects of the influx of sargassum in the region.
In a statement, the association noted that this algae regularly infests Caribbean beaches, negatively impacting marine life, tourism and the livelihoods of those dependent on the blue economy.
To find a way to mitigate this environmental challenge, OECS representatives took part in a study tour involving the Switzerland-based Paul Scherrer Institute and AlgalTek, an algae producer, the source said.
The sub-regional partnership team was led by Ambassador Colin Murdoch of the OECS Mission in Geneva and other members of the OECS Commission in Saint Lucia.
The Paul Sherrer Institute is a leading research center in the natural sciences and engineering, while AlgalTek specializes in algae products, bioproducts, research, consulting and development, the statement said.
“Participants had the opportunity to see some of the innovations in algae production and study different methods of processing each component of Sargassum, which can be adapted for different uses: pigments, proteins, lipids, minerals, microfibrillated cellulose, biofuels and bioplastics” , the statement stated.
The OECS includes the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands.
Ode/If