The Story of Sargassum

Since 2011, shifting currents and nutrient pollution have fueled the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt, a massive bloom spanning thousands of kilometres that has trapped the Caribbean and Mexico in a chronic "Sargassum Crisis". This phenomenon has transformed iconic white-sand beaches into scenes of environmental and economic emergency, turning what was once a vital floating ocean habitat into a destructive force for coastal communities. For these regions, the influx represents a "new normal" where massive seaweed mats threaten marine biodiversity, devastate local tourism, and overwhelm traditional cleanup efforts.

When massive mats reach the shore, they block sunlight from reaching coral reefs and seagrass beds. As the seaweed decomposes, it strips oxygen from the water, leading to "brown tides" that suffocate fish, crabs, and even nesting sea turtles.

Within 48 hours of washing ashore, sargassum begins to rot, releasing hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. This gas not only produces a nauseating odour but also causes respiratory irritation, headaches, and skin rashes for residents and tourists.

Tourism—the lifeblood of the region—has been hit hard. Occupancy rates in affected areas like the Caribbean, Cancún and Tulum have seen significant drops as travelers avoid "stinky" beaches. In 2018 alone, the cost of cleaning up beaches across the Caribbean was estimated at $120 million.