This seaweed is taking over Caribbean beaches… and no one knows how to stop it

The Caribbean region is experiencing a record influx of sargassum seaweed, a brown, prickly algae, impacting beaches, tourism, and even wildlife. This natural phenomenon has escalated in recent years, causing a “plague” that affects the region’s economy, environment, and health.

Scientists have documented record-breaking amounts of sargassum, with one study noting over 37 million metric tons in May 2025. The seaweed covers beaches, making them less appealing to tourists and impacting the livelihoods of tourism-dependent businesses.

As sargassum decomposes, it can release hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas that can affect air quality and cause respiratory problems,. In some cases, it has even led to school closures.

The sargassum can smother coral reefs, impacting marine life and the overall health of the ecosystem and cleaning up the seaweed is expensive and can strain local budgets, especially for smaller islands that rely heavily on tourism.

Areas impacted

Islands facing the Atlantic, such as Barbados, Antigua, St. Lucia, Dominica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, are normally the first to experience large Sargassum influxes as the seaweed drifts westward.

Mexico’s Caribbean Coast (Quintana Roo) which is home to popular tourist destinations like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum have suffered major economic losses due to Sargassum washing ashore.

Possible causes behind ‘plague’

Rising ocean temperatures, agricultural runoff, and human waste are believed to be contributing factors to the increased sargassum production.

Some islands are implementing programs to remove sargassum from beaches, although this can be costly and disruptive with research also exploring ways to utilize sargassum for biofuel production, fertilizer, and other applications, potentially turning the problem into a resource.

Some researchers are exploring methods to prevent the sargassum from reaching the coasts, such as using specialized vessels to harvest it before it reaches the shore.

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