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 region will no longer experience significant algae arrivals for the rest of the year, allowing for a “sargassum-free Christmas.”
This announcement has been met with great enthusiasm by local hoteliers, who see it as a relief for their finances and an opportunity to attract more travelers to their shores.
Amaro Mauricio explained to reporters that the decrease in the algae is due to the arrival of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and changes in the geostrophic marine currents of the eastern Caribbean.
As happened unexpectedly during the peak of the sargassum season this year, when these currents reach the arc of the Lesser Antilles, they divert the biomass northward, away from the Mexican coasts.
Counterintuitively, a series of tropical storms and hurricanes have massively contributed to the reduction of sargassum in the region, the scientist said.
Recognizing that each algae season is unpredictable, this year’s arrivals have been somewhat less severe compared to previous years.
Early predictions indicated a significant arrival of sargassum, with large masses of algae observed in the Atlantic heading toward the Mexican Caribbean around April.
However, an unexpected shift in marine currents and other favorable weather conditions “protected” the region from uncontrollable “invasion events.”
By midyear, particularly in July, the arrival of seaweed started to decrease. During this period, tourist hotspots like Cancun reported lower levels, allowing local authorities to handle it more efficiently.
Some Areas Will Still See Some Sargassum
Sargassum is not entirely leaving the Caribbean. Some areas may still experience some patches, but nothing that can prevent tourists from enjoying a day at the beach.
“There will be some patches in what we call the “red spots,” which include the north of Puerto Morelos near Petempich Bay, as well as in Tulum National Park and Akumal, where sargassum always arrives, but it is nothing to worry about,” said Amaro.
Sargassum Season Forecast for 2025
Those looking to take advantage of this break in sargassum arrival should know that it won’t last forever—sargassum is expected to make a strong comeback in 2025.
According to scientists, around 6.2 million metric tons of seaweed are currently accumulating off the coasts of northwest Africa.
Unfortunately, this sargassum won’t stay there. It is expected to start arriving along the Quintana Roo coastlines in the spring, between late March and early April.
How much of this sargassum will arrive? It’s impossible to predict. However, the factors driving the over-reproduction—rising ocean temperatures and eutrophication—remain, and are on the rise.