The University of the West Indies, Mona  (The UWI Mona), through its Centre for Marine Sciences (CMS) in the Department of Life Sciences, Fcaulty of Science and Technology recently partnered with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Government of Jamaica to deliver a regional training course on microplastics monitoring for five Caribbean countries. Held from July 2 to 11, 2025, the nine-day course was part of the IAEA Technical Cooperation Project RLA7027, which focuses on applying nuclear technology in agriculture, water resource management, and environmental protection.

The training equipped participants with practical skills in sampling, processing, and analyzing microplastics in line with UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14.1.1b: Plastic Debris Density. Field activities included manta trawl sampling at sea and beach sand collection at the Port Royal Marine Laboratory, while laboratory sessions at The UWI introduced density separation, organic matter digestion, and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy at the International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences (ICENS) to identify plastic polymers.

An important outcome of the course was the revision of the regional manual, “Protocols for the Collection, Identification, and Quantification of Microplastics in Selected Marine Matrices” (Version April 9, 2025). The updated manual will guide Caribbean member states in standardized data collection and reporting for marine plastic pollution.

Sixteen participants from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and Belize completed the training, which was delivered by IAEA experts Dr. Lorena M. Rios Mendoza and Dr. Ana Carolina Ruiz-Fernandez alongside UWI facilitators Professor Dale Webber (Jamaica’s first special envoy for climate change, the environment and matters of the ocean and the blue economy and Director, Centre for Marine Sciences) and Professor Mona Webber (Head, Department of Life Sciences) and researchers from CMS, PRML, DLS, and ICENS. The participants were:

Antigua and Barbuda

• Mr. Vernon Eden Bird – Department of Analytical Services and Research
• Ms. Jahrika Ryane Naomi Samuel – Department of Analytical Services and Research

Belize

• Ms. Azelea Gillett – University of Belize, Faculty of Science and Technology
• Mr. Lorenzo Enrique Maldonado – University of Belize, Faculty of Science and Technology

Dominica

• Ms. Indira Constant – Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries of Dominica
• Ms. Sylvia Lander – Dominica Bureau of Standards

Jamaica

• Ms. Chelsi-Rae Buckley – International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences (ICENS), UWI Mona
• Ms. Le'Anne Green – University of the West Indies, Mona Campus
• Mr. Hughlet Harvey – University of the West Indies, Mona Campus
• Ms. Devannie Leeshu Terresa Lyew – University of the West Indies, Mona Campus
• Ms. Chauntelle Parkins – University of the West Indies, Mona Campus
• Ms. Trudy-Ann Wallock-Brown – University of the West Indies, Mona Campus
• Prof. Mona Webber – University of the West Indies, Mona Campus
• Ms. Robyn Young – University of the West Indies, Mona Campus

Trinidad and Tobago

• Mr. Amir Dubrie – Institute of Marine Affairs, Trinidad and Tobago
• Mr. Andre Matthew – Institute of Marine Affairs, Trinidad and Tobago

By hosting the training and contributing local expertise, The UWI supported regional efforts to build capacity for monitoring marine plastic pollution, ensuring Caribbean countries have the tools and knowledge to address this critical environmental issue.

Photo caption: Participants in the UWI-IAEA Microplastics Monitoring training hosted from July 2–11, 2025.