Cancun, Q.R. — The government of Quintana Roo has confirmed the attendance of 25 countries for an upcoming conference to address the ongoing sargasso issue that has plagued much of Latin America.
La Secretaría estatal del Medio Ambiente (state secretary of environment) made the announcement in a public message, saying that some of the countries confirmed include the United States, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Barbados, Honduras, Guatemala and Panama.
The conference, which is scheduled in Cancun May 28, will see affected countries analyze and agree on actions to deal with the arrival of seaweed along the coasts of the Caribbean beaches. Other countries that will be attending include Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago as well as Haiti, Guadeloupe, Belize and Jamaica.
According to the official preliminary program, the meeting will include addressing the Current situation of sargassum in the Greater Caribbean, The conditions for international cooperation in the Greater Caribbean and Steps for the construction of a common agenda.
Last weekend, navy ships reported collecting 10 tons of seaweed offshore in the areas of Punta Cancun, Punta Nizuc, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos, Puerto Aventuras and Tulum.
Daily cleaning efforts are made manually by volunteers, municipal agencies and hotels in a bid to keep beaches clean and free of sargasso.
