ON AIR
The beaches of the Mexican Caribbean known around the world for their white sand and crystal-clear waters are facing a new threat this year: the massive arrival of sargassum, a type of seaweed that, in large quantities, harms both the environment and the tourism industry.
Imagine being excited to visit the beautiful beaches of Cancún, only to find the sand covered in brown algae and the ocean smelling unpleasant. This is what happens when sargassum washes ashore in huge amounts, as it has been doing along the Caribbean coast of Mexico.
Sargassum is a brown seaweed that floats naturally in the Atlantic Ocean. While it plays an important role in the open ocean ecosystem by providing habitat for marine life, when it reaches the shore in excess, it becomes a serious problem. As it decomposes, it gives off a strong odor and can disrupt nearby marine ecosystems.
In 2025, experts have reported record-breaking amounts of sargassum approaching the beaches of Cancún. Several factors are contributing to this increase:
- Climate change: Rising ocean temperatures create ideal conditions for sargassum to grow.
- Pollution: Excessive use of fertilizers and nutrient runoff from major rivers like the Amazon and the Mississippi feed the rapid growth of this algae.
Rodrigo de la Peña, president of the Hotel Association of Cancún, Puerto Morelos, and Isla Mujeres, explained that the 2025 sargassum season has arrived with greater intensity than in previous years, which is already affecting hotel bookings for the upcoming vacation season.
“Many tourists prefer to avoid beaches overwhelmed by sargassum,” said De la Peña. “This leads to lower hotel occupancy rates and hurts restaurants, transportation services, tour operators, and many families who depend on tourism for their livelihood.”
In response, federal, state, and local authorities have put several measures in place to reduce the negative impact of sargassum:
- Floating barriers at sea: Special nets are installed offshore to stop the seaweed before it reaches the beach.
- Specialized cleanup equipment: Tractors and conveyor belts are used to remove the sargassum from the shore.
- Satellite monitoring: The Navy and public universities track sargassum blooms from space to predict and prepare for landfall.
- Research and reuse: Scientists are studying eco-friendly ways to repurpose the sargassum into products like fertilizer, biodegradable bricks, and recycled paper.
Although sargassum is a natural phenomenon, its recent surge is closely linked to human activity. Experts emphasize the need to change our habits to protect the environment: reduce plastic use, avoid polluting rivers, cut back on chemicals, and support actions that help combat climate change.
Keeping our beaches clean and healthy isn’t just the government’s job, it’s a shared responsibility. Tourists, businesses, and local communities all play a role in protecting these natural treasures for future generations.