To tackle the ecological and economic challenges caused by the annual influxes of Sargassum seaweed affecting coastal areas across the Gulf of Mexico, the Wider Caribbean, and West Africa, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) has released a comprehensive Sargassum White Paper. This report, prepared by the UN Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP) in collaboration with IOC-SCOR GlobalHAB and other experts, offers an in-depth analysis of Sargassum’s population dynamics and identifies critical research gaps for sustainable management.

The White Paper highlights the urgent need for enhanced forecasting methods and a deeper understanding of the ecological factors driving Sargassum proliferation, which is increasingly influenced by both natural and human-induced factors. The report calls for science-policy collaborations to effectively address the impacts of Sargassum, providing essential guidance for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders committed to solving one of the Atlantic’s most pressing environmental challenges.