Assessment of the Economic Impact of Sargassum Influxes on the Dominican Coastline

Understanding the economic consequences of sargassum influxes on the coastal areas of the Dominican Republic was the central focus of this project, which aimed to provide a comprehensive assessment of the socio-economic impacts associated with these recurring events. The study combined economic valuation techniques and interdisciplinary approaches to quantify the direct and indirect costs generated by sargassum accumulation and to support the design of effective mitigation and adaptation strategies.

The work included a review of the existing literature on the socio-economic impacts of sargassum in the Dominican Republic and across the wider Caribbean, as well as on the ecosystem services provided by affected marine ecosystems. The consultancy assessed different valuation methodologies and collected primary and secondary data to estimate economic losses across multiple sectors, including tourism, fisheries, public health, tourism property values, environmental degradation, and cleaning and restoration activities. Particular attention was given to the estimation of non-market impacts through survey-based approaches and the assessment of willingness to pay for measures aimed at reducing the effects of sargassum influxes.

In addition, the project analysed how economic losses are distributed among different stakeholder groups, economic sectors and institutions, providing a detailed understanding of the socio-economic implications of these events. Based on the findings, the consultancy developed recommendations and evaluated mitigation and adaptation measures through cost-benefit analysis, supporting both short-term response actions and long-term strategic planning to strengthen the resilience of coastal communities and ecosystems in the Dominican Republic.