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 …
Caribbean
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 …
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 …
Barbados is a small Caribbean island with a population of about 300,000. However, it’s been tasked with a monumental problem to try to tackle. With tourism a main driver of the nation’s economy, the island nation has struggled with an influx of Sargassum, a brown macroalgae, which washes up on the Barbados coastline. Within days …
Most of us schedule our vacations around good weather. But while sun is practically guaranteed all year round in the Caribbean, there is one thing you should watch out for. Yes, we’re talking about the infamous seaweed, which has ruined the beach experiences of thousands of travelers and is likely to affect many more. If …
Powered by the Visa Foundation, the NGO Mayma Mexico developed the project “Regenerating Blue Communities: Promoting Business Solutions Beyond Sustainability in the Coastal Socio-ecosystem of Quintana Roo” to identify business opportunities arising from sargassum use. Between Nov. 2023 and Jun. 2024, the organization found 85 projects working on initiatives to capitalize on the seaweed washing …
Sargassum crisis has caught Caribbean governments on the wrong foot. After struggling with it for 13 years now, only cosmetic solutions have been provided. Authorities have become efficient at collecting algae in the open sea and quickly removing them from beaches so tourists don’t see their perfect Instagram pictures ruined. But it’s about time to …
The Dominican Republic Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MESCyT) has allocated 1.2 million US dollars to fight the growth of the sargassum seaweed on its beaches. The funding is provided through the National Fund for Scientific Development and Technological Innovation (Fondocyt). The project is designed to work with local and international agencies to …
Pristine beaches, tropical weather, stunning landscapes, and easy access from the major U.S. cities – the Caribbean is an ideal vacation destination for many reasons. However, as many of you might know, the sargassum season has just started and many beautiful Caribbean islands must face the invasion. Yet, some places are less affected than others, …