UK ocean farming and seaweed company Seafields Solutions has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Private Refuse and Garbage Disposal (PRGD) to recycle and repurpose Sargassum into a blue economy asset for the Caribbean. The agreement is part of the PRGD Sargassum Beach Clean Up Project to transform the Sargassum challenge into a sustainable economic opportunity.
For decades, the influx of Sargassum seaweed has become a serious and recurring problem across Caribbean nations, affecting fisheries, tourism, coastal ecosystems, and local livelihoods. By combining Seafields’ ocean-harvesting and seaweed management technologies (SeaClear) with PRGD’s local operations and beach clean-up infrastructure, the project will develop a commercial business to repurpose sargassum collected both on the beach and in the ocean.
The Sargassum will be made into products such as bio-stimulants and biochar, to meet ready market demand and lay the groundwork for long-term commercialization. The pilot’s results will directly inform the creation of a long-term joint venture, Seafields SVG, to be established in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Running from September 2025 to April 2026, the project will operate under the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Unleashing the Blue Economy in the Caribbean (UBEC) Program, funded by the World Bank from $56 million funding of which $15 million has been provided to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. This commercial initiative will generate employment, invest in capital equipment, and create a business revenue stream in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Seafields will receive a six-figure sum investment to support the installation of harvesting boats, floating barriers, in-water storage paddocks, and processing equipment. The company has also Seafields launched its second crowdfunding campaign on Crowdcube.
“By combining Seafields’ ocean-harvesting expertise with PRGD’s local capabilities, we aim to prove not only the technical feasibility but also the commercial potential of Sargassum-based products in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,” said John Auckland, CEO, Seafields Solutions. “This pilot will lay the foundations for a long-term, scalable solution that benefits local communities while advancing the blue economy across the Caribbean.”
Under the agreement, PRGD will act as lead implementers, managing local operations, stakeholder engagement, sales, and compliance with OECS frameworks. Seafields will serve as the strategic technical partner, providing ocean-harvesting technologies, system design and training.
“Sargassum is not only a Saint Vincent and the Grenadines challenge, it is a Caribbean-wide challenge that affects our coasts, our people, and our economies,” said Jaimason Samuel, CEO, Montrose Holdings. “By investing in this pilot with Seafields, we are committed to leading from the front in developing practical solutions that create jobs, protect our environment, and generate new opportunities for our region. This is about turning a regional problem into a regional strength.”
