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
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 …
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 …
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 …
As sargassum seaweed becomes a bigger issue around the globe due to the warming seas and more active ocean currents, tourist destinations around the world are facing the challenges of what to do with all of it that washes up on local beaches. Muluk Spa at Hotel Xcaret Arte in Cancún is one of tourism …
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 …
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 …