By Zoila Palma: Mexico’s Caribbean coastline is facing a projected surge in sargassum seaweed this summer, with early blooms indicating levels could surpass last year’s record influx.
Coastal areas have already reported unusually high volumes in the first months of the year, signaling a potentially severe season ahead for beach communities and the tourism sector, the Financial Times reports.
Sargassum, a naturally occurring brown algae, has spread significantly across the Caribbean since 2015, driven by environmental changes linked to pollution and rising ocean temperatures. When large quantities wash ashore, they emit a strong odor and require costly removal efforts, placing financial strain on local authorities and businesses.
In Tulum, authorities collected 244 tonnes of seaweed in February, a sharp increase from 59 tonnes during the same period last year.
Officials warn that the trend is abnormal and could worsen, especially after more than 80,000 tonnes were cleared across Quintana Roo in 2025, marking the highest level on record.
The post International News: Mexico braces for record sargassum influx as seaweed surge threatens Caribbean beaches appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: Mexico’s Caribbean coastline is facing a projected surge in sargassum seaweed this summer, with early blooms indicating levels could surpass last year’s record influx. Coastal areas have already reported unusually high volumes in the first months of the year, signaling a potentially severe season ahead for beach communities and the tourism sector,
The post International News: Mexico braces for record sargassum influx as seaweed surge threatens Caribbean beaches appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.