Punta Cana, Dominican Republic — Environmental advocates and community groups have raised alarms over alleged ecological damage caused by sargassum removal efforts at Uvero Alto Beach, accusing the Sirenis Hotel and the Matute Hotel Group of destroying critical sea turtle nesting sites.
According to reports, the hotels are using heavy machinery, including bulldozers, to clear sargassum from the beach—allegedly without the proper permits from the Ministry of the Environment. The cleanup operations have reportedly led to the crushing of sea turtle eggs, including those of the endangered hawksbill turtle, a species protected under Dominican and international conservation laws.
Critics also point to the installation of a cyclone fence along the shoreline, intended to block incoming sargassum. Environmental groups argue the barrier poses a threat to marine life, could endanger swimmers, and may eventually lead to pollution as the metal corrodes in the saltwater environment.
Local environmental organizations are now calling for an immediate suspension of these activities and are urging government authorities to step in and enforce conservation regulations to protect the region’s fragile coastal ecosystem.
The complaints, first reported by N Digital, have sparked wider concerns about the lack of oversight in managing sargassum invasions, which continue to affect coastal communities across the Caribbean. Activists are demanding more sustainable solutions that balance tourism development with the preservation of marine biodiversity.
