On Monday, 30th November 2020 the UNEP’s Global Partnership on Nutrients Management (GPNM) in collaboration with UNEP’s Cartagena Convention, UNEP’s Science Division and IOC-UNESCO organized the fourth Sargassum webinar, entitled ‘Sargassum in the Wider Caribbean Region – Challenges, responses, and synergies’ – with focus on the wider Caribbean region. By 2018, the Caribbean witnessed the largest macroalgae bloom recorded in history, an 8,850 km long mass extending from the central Atlantic and Caribbean Sea to West Africa and the Gulf of Mexico. Belts of Sargassum, circulated by ocean currents, regularly wash ashore in the Caribbean now, where they rot on the beaches, giving off a strong, sulfurous stench.  The objective of this webinar was to provide an update of Sargassum situation from countries in the region, and build synergies amongst countries, UN Agencies and other stakeholders in addressing the Sargassum challenge through integrated approaches in line with the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement, biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as chemicals related international multilateral agreements.

This Fifth webinar will focus on the Opportunities for collaboration – Sargassum science, assessment, and monitoring; Sargassum policy mainstreaming at the regional and global levels; as well as Launch of Sargassum White Paper for the Caribbean

The webinar will be held on Thursday, 10 June 2021, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM EAT.