Sargassum R&D Hub

Though there are many ways which sargassum can be used, there is still a significant amount of research and development needed to scale and build sustainable industries that would best work for St. Croix. For this to happen, St. Croix should make investments to create a research development hub focused on sargassum. This would involve the following.

Why St. Croix?

Unique challenges create unique opportunities that produce greater outcomes. Given that St. Croix is in the Caribbean better positions the island to understand and serve the needs of the island and abroad. Another aspect is that St. Croix has fiber optic cables which allows for sharing big data regarding sargassum amongst other researchers. Lastly, St. Croix has existing investments ready to be utilized from RT Park, and University of the Virgin Island (UVI’s) Center for Marine and Environmental Studies.

St. Croix has fiber optic cables which allows for sharing big data.

1. R&D Sargassum Consortium

The University of the Virgin Island’s (UVI) Center for Marine and Environmental Studies (CMES) should expand to collaborate with other university programs to focus on studying the impacts and uses of sargassum.17 In doing so, researchers can close the knowledge gap regarding sargassum and work towards creating scalable solutions that can be implemented in St. Croix and beyond. Furthermore, creating a consortium will provide an opportunity for St. Croix to gain resources to address the challenges of sargassum while also being the place to create new businesses related to sargassum. The University of the Virgin Island should consider collaborating with Texas A&M Galveston18, the University of South Florida19, and the University of Miami20 which have established centers and experts focused on studying sargassum.

Case Study: University of the Sunshine Coast

In Queensland, Australia the University of the Sunshine Coast established a seaweed research group to improve the environmental, economic, and social of seaweed through research and development.21 The university seaweed research group has more than 30 leading experts in the space focused on helping communities, governments, and businesses to identify opportunities that can create solutions through seaweed. The research group has found that seaweed is growing at a rate of 8% per year and represents an industry of over $7 billion.

Case Study: NOAA Restore Science Program

The NOAA Restore Science Program is a program that carry out research, observation, and monitoring to support the long-term sustainability of the ecosystem, fish stocks, fish habitats, and the recreational, commercial, and charter-fishing industry in the Gulf of Mexico.22 Researchers from the University of South Florida, and the University of Southern Mississippi were awarded $1.7 million to better understand sargassum and the impact that it has on fisheries.23 Programs such as the NOAA Restore Science Program can be used to support a sargassum research and development consortium to further the understanding of sargassum and creating solutions to the algae.