LocationsEmpowering Youth Innovation to Tackle the Caribbean’s Sargassum Crisis Through Low-Cost, In-Water Harvesting Solutions
Sargassum Snatch Innovation Competition
September 9, 2025
Competition team setting out to deploy prototype seaweed catchment device
UNDP
Since 2011, massive volumes of sargassum began smothering the coasts of the Americas, negatively impacting human health, disrupting marine travel, and deterring visitors from enjoying picturesque seascapes. While the seaweed is not uncommon in the Caribbean, climate change, elevated sea temperatures, oceanic currents, and nutrient-rich waters from continental rivers have been cited as catalysts behind the proliferation of the macroalgae. In 2015, Tobago experienced what was deemed a “natural disaster” as TTD 4 million was spent in clean-up efforts to deal with that year’s sargassum influx. Now a perennial occurrence, the unpredictable arrival of excessive sargassum has challenged Caribbean countries.
However, some innovators have been finding creative ways to use the plant, betting on innovations that range from biofuel to packaging materials and spa treatments. Many of these innovations depend on fresh sargassum that hasn’t yet reached ashore or that hasn’t yet begun to decay. Collecting sargassum in this state requires in-water harvesting, a new challenge compared to the traditional manual operations, concentrated on and beaches.
Sargassum collection device prototype created by competition participant
UNDP
In recognition of the importance of in-water collection of sargassum, the Global Environment Facility Small grants Programme (GEF SGP) and the UNDP Accelerator Lab collaborated on the Sargassum Innovation Challenge, a call for innovative solutions to address the sargassum crisis. The Challenge funded, among others, a project of the NGO Conserve Habitats and Protect Organisms (CHaPO), which focused on in-water harvesting. The project drew on the creativity and ingenuity of students involved in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to develop low-cost tools that could be used by fisherfolk to collect sargassum at sea.
Titled the Sargassum Snatch Innovation Competition, the project allowed CHaPO to garner the best ideas from young, innovative minds to address environmental and development challenges. Their solutions which are low cost, scalable and resilient, could benefit coastal rural communities engaged in the collection and removal of sargassum seaweed. From a pool of fifteen entrants, the top three participants were invited to present their prototype designs and capabilities. The prototypes were put to the test at Saline Bay, Salybia. This initiative engaged the community through the assistance of fishers from the area whose vessels were outfitted with the collection devices.
Participants Carissa Floyd, Navita Persad (middle), and Jaden Forde (right) showcasing seaweed and other materials collected from the ocean with their devices.
UNDP
The judging panel took into account assembly times, effort required for operation, and weight of materials collected on the open ocean. Third place went to Carissa Floyd’s sargassum removal apparatus which consisted of two box-shaped nets supported by a central beam perpendicular to the boat’s hull. Inspired by pool cleaners, Jaden Forde’s device was judged second best. It comprised scoops stationed on the sides of the pirogue that were maneuvered via a swivel mechanism that allowed for the transfer of sargassum into the hull of the boat. Navita Persad captured the top spot by employing the use of barrels, which offered more stability and collection space.
Dr. Kelly Kingon of CHaPO (left) weighs material caught by participant, Jaden Forde (right)
UNDP
The Sargassum Snatch Innovation Competition illustrated the potential of converting ordinary affordable and accessible materials into tools that could assist in alleviating environmental challenges at the heart of communities.