Grenada, which is more than a spice island, is home to the gorgeous Morne Rouge Beach. It's a white sand paradise free of seaweed and has a laid-back vibe compared to the popular Grand Anse Beach.
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Barbados is losing vast tracts of beachland annually due to the almost continuous influx of Sargassum Seaweed on its shores.
In the Caribbean, seaweed season is generally May to October. The worst time for seaweed in Cancun, the Dominican Republic and much of the Caribbean is during the summer months.
Sargassum inundations occur mainly on the windward coast of Saint Lucia like most Eastern Caribbean Island States, with occasional landings occurring on the southwest coast. This influences which assets are impacted.
Sargassum inundations not only affect the shore but also the sea as sargassum can decompose in the water leading to fouling of the water quality which can influence coral health.
If you've been to the Riviera Maya before, there's more than likely a high chance that you've encountered sargassum before. Despite being home to some of the best, white-sanded beaches on the planet, the region's geographical location makes it a hot spot for the microalgae to wash up on. What is this?
For example, in 2022, when mainland of Playa del Carmen, Mexico had a severe sargassum seaweed problem, the leeward beaches of Isla Mujeres and Cozumel were free of seaweed. And in Barbados, Carlisle Bay often has no issues with sargassum.
One of the largest Caribbean islands, Jamaica offers several coastlines and beaches to choose from. Although there have been issues with foul-smelling sargassum seaweed in Jamaica (such as Fort Clarence Beach near Kingston) the beaches in Negril have generally been free of sargassum seaweed.
Responding to questions from CNS, Jennifer Ahearn, the chief officer in the Ministry of Sustainability and Climate Resiliency, said that Cayman is one of many countries that has been impacted by large sargassum blooms over the past decade.
The seaweed belt remains huge – there's an estimated 6 million tons of sargassum still floating around – but it's down several million tons in just a few months. That's good news for residents, visitors and workers of beach areas of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean.
Without a life guard on every beach, it is important to be extra cautious with your kids and how far they choose to swim. Playa del Carmen, the north beach in Tulum, and Akumal all have lifeguards for the beaches but they are limited. Swim close to shore and it you are not a big swimmer, wear a life vest.
The seaweed is moved from the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt to Mexico and the Caribbean region by hitching a ride on currents. As it makes it way along these streams, the sargassum picks up more and more nutrients and continues to grow.
Sargassum threatens tourismJamaica, The Bahamas and the Dominican Republic are sought-after tourist destinations in the Caribbean and tourism is a major industry for these Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Unfortunately, sargassum can threaten this industry.
Since 2011, 2023 still ranks in the top half of the worst sargassum seaweed seasons. With the latest data, USF researchers say in June, sargassum will likely decrease in the Gulf of Mexico, meaning beachgoers may not have such a smelly experience. The USF lab forecasts the decrease to continue through August.
Popular resort hubs, including Playa del Carmen and Tulum, have ramped up efforts to deter sargassum from affecting travelers. What is this? Both destinations have set up temporary barriers and hired more cleaners in an effort to attract more travelers.