Sargassum Alert: Mexican Caribbean Beaches Clear for Summer

The Mexican Caribbean is currently experiencing a significant decrease in sargassum levels. Recent satellite imagery confirms that the region is almost entirely clear of this type of seaweed. Predictions based on these images, along with analysis of oceanographic and climatic conditions, suggest that the Mexican Caribbean will remain sargassum-free from July to September this year. If this trend persists, it's highly likely that the same will hold true for the fall and winter months. The lack of sargassum on the beaches will enhance the vacation experience and support the local economy, which heavily relies on tourism. Thus, the coming months promise clean, appealing beaches, further establishing the Mexican Caribbean as a top tourist destination.

Esteban Amaro, a hydrobiologist and director of the Caribbean Sea Environmental Monitoring and Climate Change Network, provided a forecast based on an in-depth analysis of changes in marine currents and current climatic conditions. He noted that significant shifts in primary and secondary marine currents have been observed since early June. These changes are altering the direction and speed of currents in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.

Amaro explained that "a significant deviation to the east of the Trinidad and Tobago Islands is pulling the sargassum north. This phenomenon is due to thermal and density variations in the water, freshwater contributions from the Amazon and Orinoco rivers, and the seasonal climate change from spring to summer". He pointed out that the diversion of the main current has moved a large biomass of sargassum northward, severely impacting the Lesser and Greater Antilles, including Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba, and Jamaica. The Dominican coasts are expected to receive around 10 million tons of sargassum this summer.

Due to changes in marine currents, Isla Mujeres recently experienced an unusual sargassum landing on Playa Norte. In response, the local government mobilized crews from the Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone (Zofemat) and volunteers from the Isla Mujeres City Council to clean up the seaweed.