Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico beaches swathed in record levels of seaweed
Summary
Record amounts of sargassum seaweed are covering beaches and coastlines in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. This seaweed growth is harming marine life, hurting tourism, and causing problems for local communities.Key Facts
- About 27 million metric tons of sargassum were recorded in July 2026 across the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico.
- Sargassum seaweed is covering miles of coastline and produces a bad smell when it rots onshore.
- This year, sargassum has grown locally in large amounts, instead of being carried by ocean currents as usual.
- The sargassum belt in the Atlantic has been increasing since 2011.
- Scientists link the growth to factors like agricultural runoff, warmer waters, and changing wind and ocean currents.
- Mexico plans to spend $115 million to reduce the seaweed problem on its Caribbean coast.
- On the worst days, up to 9,000 tons of sargassum reach Mexico’s coast, but the country can only remove 1,200 tons daily with current resources.
- 2026 is expected to have the second-largest sargassum bloom on record for this region.
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