Philippines Sargassum Seaweed Industry Gets Big Investment

Riviera Maya hoteliers have confirmed that $300 million in financing has been secured from international funds and the European Union to help address the significant financial and environmental impacts caused by sargassum across Quintana Roo. These resources will support research projects and companies developing commercial products to make use of the algae and potentially generate …

A few weeks ago, the Municipal President of Solidaridad, Estefanía Mercado, acknowledged the serious consequences that worsening beach erosion in the region—exacerbated by sargassum collection—could have on the tourism sector. Despite recognizing the vital role beaches play in driving tourism, the official stated that the city council lacked the financial resources to tackle the problem …

Sargassum, that annoying macroalgae washing up on the shores of your favorite beach just may now have a higher calling thanks to some innovative scientists in Barbados.  According to an article in the Antigua Observer newspaper, some crafty engineers have been able to take ordinary seaweed and turn it into a useful biofuel to power …

While the 2024 sargassum season has officially ended, small patches of seaweed continue to wash up on Quintana Roo’s shorelines here and there. Nothing to be worried about—the algae has been a natural part of the sea for centuries and, in low amounts, it even benefits marine ecosystems. Recently, favorable weather conditions in the Atlantic …

Tourists heading for a stay in the Virgin Islands this year will have a mostly seaweed-free experience at one popular local resort due to recent investments made to combat the macroalgae. Seaweed Free at the Ritz The Ritz Carlton resort in the Virgin Islands announced recently that it has made a significant investment in the …

Over the past three years, the Mexican government and private sector have been supporting and funding both commercial and academic projects aiming at finding innovative solutions to mitigate the sargassum problem in Quintana Roo. This November, BBVA’s National Sustainability Challenge, in collaboration with the Riviera Maya Hotel Association (AHRM), will recognize three standout projects that …

The 2024 sargassum season in Mexico brought significantly less seaweed than predicted. Could this be a sign that 2025 might also be “good” for tourism? Data collected over the last four weeks confirms that the unwelcome sargassum season in the Mexican Caribbean has officially ended, leaving considerable losses, particularly in the tourism and fishing industries, …

Consumers around the world are well accustomed to easily buying products from Amazon. As the world’s largest retailer, they seem to carry everything under sun available for a tap or a click.  Well, almost everything under the sun. Soon they can add seaweed to their product lineup as the company recently announced it is opening …

A recent report by the Dominican Republic news outlet N Digital Multimedia has raised concerns about the potential threat posed by highly polluted sargassum and flesh-eating bacteria present in the water. According to the report, a study conducted by INTEC University found that the sargassum washing ashore cannot be repurposed for agricultural use due to …

According to satellite observations, sargassum season in the Mexican Caribbean has officially come to an end, thanks to a drop in water temperatures, authorities stated. Esteban Amaro Mauricio, a hydrobiologist and Director of the Sargassum Monitoring Network, said that based on the last four weeks of satellite data, it is safe to say that the …