Chlordecone Compensation Move: A new law has officially recognized the French State’s responsibility for the long-term chlordecone contamination in Guadeloupe and Martinique, opening the door to talks on compensation for people whose illnesses are linked to pesticide exposure, with a one-year deadline for a Parliament report and funding tied in part to an added levy on tobacco products. Sargassum Public Health & Resilience: The Virgin Islands is looking to practical strategies to improve public health preparedness and coastal resilience through sargassum management, following an OECS–EU study visit in Martinique and Guadeloupe that covered interception, collection, monitoring, and using sargassum. Marine Protection Zones: France announced new strictly protected marine areas, raising the protected share of its waters to 14.68%, including coral reef protections in Guadeloupe where sea turtles live, with fishing and other activities banned or heavily restricted in these zones.