President Luis Abinader has issued Decree No. 122-26, amending Article 3 of Decree 379-23 of August 21, 2023. This action seeks to strengthen the Sargassum Fight Cabinet, making its response more effective in the face of massive invasions affecting Dominican coasts and beaches.
New integration for greater coordination
The Sargassum Fight Cabinet is now chaired by the Minister of Tourism and coordinated by the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. Key figures are incorporated, such as the Ministers of Foreign Relations, Agriculture, and Finance; the Executive Vice President of the National Council for Climate Change; the Director of ANAMAR; and the General Commander of the Navy. A representative of the Ministry of the Presidency and of ASONAHORES, representing the private sector, also participate.
Appointment of Executive Director
The decree appoints Vice Admiral (ret.) Ramón Gustavo Betances Hernández as Executive Director of the Sargassum Fight Cabinet. This appointment underscores the focus on specialized leadership to articulate institutional efforts.
Context of the sargassum problem in the Dominican Republic
Since 2018, sargassum has annually invaded thousands of kilometers of Caribbean beaches, with the Dominican Republic receiving up to 20 million tons during peak years like 2018 and 2023, according to data from the University of South Florida. This seaweed generates foul odors, damages corals, and reduces hotel reservations by up to 30% in touristic areas such as Punta Cana and Bávaro.
- Environmental impact: Acidifies soils and contaminates waters.
- Economic effect: Million-dollar losses in tourism, the country’s main industry.
- Public health: Hydrogen sulfide emissions affect breathing.
Experts such as the Dominican oceanographer Eduardo Klein highlight that global warming and agricultural nutrients in Amazonian rivers drive these blooms. Caribbean governments, via CARICOM, coordinate responses, but climatic variability complicates predictions.
Background and governmental commitment
The Sargassum Fight Cabinet emerged in 2023 to centralize actions such as mechanical collection and floating barriers. The restructuring responds to recent intense seasons, reaffirming the government’s commitment to tourism sustainability. In 2025, more than 100 thousand tons were collected, but logistical challenges persist.
This measure positions the Sargassum Fight Cabinet as a strategic hub, integrating the public and private sectors to mitigate recurring damage and protect a vital economic pillar.