The joint in-person meeting between the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on Monitoring and Assessment of the LBS Protocol and the SPAW Sargassum Working Group is a key initiative aimed at enhancing regional coordination and integration between the AMEP and SPAW sub-programmes to address the challenges posed by Sargassum inundations and nutrient pollution. This meeting directly responds to Decision 1 of the 6th LBS COP and Decision V of the 12th SPAW COP, which call for strengthening synergies between the LBS and SPAW Protocols, particularly on issues related to eutrophication, Sargassum management, and marine biodiversity conservation.
This meeting is financially supported by direct contributions from the governments of France and the Netherlands and UNEP Headquarters funding through the Regional Seas Programme Coordination Project. The event will bring together key stakeholders, including members of the Sargassum Working Group and the OEWG, as well as partners such as the OECS Commission, CRFM, and the European Union.
The meeting aims to provide a comprehensive overview of Sargassum influxes in the Wider Caribbean Region and their potential links to nutrient pollution, identifying key data gaps and research needs to improve regional monitoring and assessment efforts. It will also enhance coordination between the SPAW and LBS Protocols, fostering collaboration between regional activity centres (RACs) and regional activity networks (RANs) to ensure more effective responses to these challenges. A key outcome will be the identification of joint activities for inclusion in both the Sargassum Working Group’s Action Plan and the Monitoring and Assessment OEWG Work Plan, strengthening the integration of thematic linkages between nutrient pollution, eutrophication, and marine biodiversity conservation. Additionally, the meeting will outline technical recommendations to be considered at the upcoming LBS and SPAW Scientific and Technical Advisory Committees (STACs), reinforcing regional strategies to mitigate nutrient enrichment, manage Sargassum influxes, and enhance the resilience of marine and coastal ecosystems.
By aligning efforts under the Cartagena Convention, this meeting will facilitate greater cooperation between regional and international partners, ensuring coherent policy development and technical collaboration. Strengthening cross-sectoral linkages between nutrient pollution control and Sargassum management will contribute to more effective mitigation strategies, supporting the resilience of marine and coastal ecosystems across the Wider Caribbean Region.
