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Coastal changes, such as the management of sargassum, are a concern for many territories. Needless to say, Saint-Barthélemy is one of them. This is why the Collectivité territoriale felt it necessary to be represented at the 44th congress of the Association des élus des littoraux (Anel), held at the end of September in Bonifacio, Corsica. Marie-Angèle Aubin, 3rd vice-president of the Collectivité, and Anaïs Coulon, a scientist and researcher at the Université Paul Valéry University in Montpellier, who works with the Agence territoriale de l'environnement, took part in the discussions on coastal preservation and sargassum management.
Marie-Angèle Aubin spoke with Anaïs Coulon, presenting the scientist's feedback on the work she has been carrying out in Saint-Barth over the past two years on coastal erosion. This research involves the consequences of the massive collection of Sargasso seaweed.
A third action plan
During the congress, Anel questioned the French government on the management of sargassum. This is a particularly important issue for overseas collectivities," it said. Despite the announcement of a third national plan to combat sargassum, mobilization on various fronts - prevention, action, regulation - is urgent. For over a decade, a brown scourge from the open sea has relentlessly battered the coasts of the West Indies and French Guiana, wounding the very lifeblood of the sea. "
On May 26, at the Comité interministériel de la mer in Saint-Nazaire, former French Prime Minister François Bayrou announced a third national plan to combat sargassum. "It's a signal we've been waiting for", stresses Anel. The plan includes the increased deployment of Sargator vessels (boats capable of collecting up to 16 tons of algae per hour), the use of cranes and barges to facilitate treatment, and logistical and technical support for the communities concerned.
Camille Pelage, vice-president of the Guadeloupe region, told the conference: "Overseas France is not waiting for gradual crisis management. They expect a strategy of liberation, a response commensurate with the challenge. "Just like the people of Saint-Barthélemy, in short.
Announcements for Saint-Barthélemy
Speaking on Saint-Barthélemy on August 24, the President of the Collectivité territoriale, Xavier Lédée, addressed the subject of sargassum, declaring: "We have accelerated our research to identify the best technologies for anti-sargasso booms and, more generally, for solutions to combat this plague (...).(...) A structured contract is currently being drawn up, including a test phase in Marigot, to protect four priority bays: Marigot, Grand Cul-de-Sac, Petit Cul-de-Sac and Anse des Cayes (...) We have undertaken a reorganization of the storage site, with a study underway to bring it into compliance, including the creation of impermeable cells and the treatment of waste juices.(...) On the subject of sargassum, I have asked the departments concerned, and the elected representatives in charge, to do their utmost, and not to hesitate to carry out operational experiments. "
Part of the island's population, as well as hotel establishments, bore the brunt of massive sargassum groundings at the end of the tourist season. Solutions, however imperfect, are therefore expected in the coming months. However, as promises are only made to those who believe them, some hotels have already taken the initiative by investing in equipment to retain and collect the sargassum. The phenomenon is unlikely to disappear in the next few years.
Sargasso steering committee meets
Yesterday, Thursday October 2, the Prefecture of Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy hosted the first meeting of the steering committee (Copil) dedicated to the fight against sargassum.
