But now, in the spring and summer, the Yucatán coastline between Cancún and Tulum is clogged with mountains of seaweed, fouling the beach with a sulfurous scent of decay and making the water nearly unswimmable. This macroalgae is called sargassum, and it’s causing trouble in paradise.
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Is seaweed still a problem in Cancun?
The beaches of Cancun and Mexican Caribbean destinations are clean and the sea is transparent during November and will be so in December, according to forecasts derived from satellite monitoring of sargassum blooms.However, seaweed is still observed floating in the sea.
Is there still seaweed in Cancun 2021?
Sargassum Forecast for Seaweed Season in Mexico in 2021. In Mexico, sargassum seaweed season is generally between May and October each year. If you travel to the Caribbean coast of Mexico outside of that time period you can generally expect to avoid large mats of seaweed on the beaches.
Are the beaches in Cancun still full of seaweed?
The ships including 4 ocean sweepers are currently operating in the ocean waters surrounding Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, Cozumel and Tulum.As of May 31, 2021 over 10 thousand tons of seaweed have been removed from the ocean and beaches in 7 municipalities around Quintana Roo.
Why is there a lot of seaweed in Cancun?
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.
Is Mexico still have seaweed problems?
The problem is sprawling: scientists using NASA satellite data recently clocked the floating seaweed belt at 5,549 miles long. A worker removes sargassum from the beach near Tulum in Quintana Roo State, Mexico, in May 2019.Since the crisis began a decade ago, the amount of seaweed washing ashore has ebbed and flowed.
Which beach in Mexico has no seaweed?
Playa Norte on Isla Mujeres and Other Beaches Without Seaweed in Mexico. If you have your heart set on visiting Mexico’s Caribbean coast, it’s still possible to find beaches with no sargassum seaweed along this vast coastline.
What are the worst months for seaweed in Cancun?
According to Nasa, 5.1 million metric tons of Sargassum has accumulated in a large patch and some will inevitably make its way towards Cancun in the months of June, July and August when the state of Quintana Roo says the seaweed season it at its worst.
Does Riviera Maya have a seaweed problem?
From about early October 2019 to March 2020 the beaches were very clear of seaweed. We believe the hurricanes of 2020 changed currents and it helped the sargassum situation. Starting in May of 2021 the seaweed is coming back.The beaches in the Riviera Maya have been pretty free from seaweed lately.
Is it safe to swim in sargassum?
Sargassum presents risks to human health as well. In the water, it’s harmless to humans, but the trouble begins once it lands on the beach and starts to decompose.Breathing in these toxic gases may cause respiratory, skin and neurocognitive symptoms in people that come in close contact with degrading sargasso.
Is the seaweed bad in Playa del Carmen?
I’ll be honest, the seaweed situation in Playa del Carmen can be bad. Like REALLY BAD. At its worst, there can be mountainous piles of coarse brown sargassum on the beaches with an overpowering rotten eggs smell that makes you want to hold your breath.
How do I get rid of seaweed sargassum?
Sargassum in shallow waters can be removed “using reinforced fishing nets – either toed by light boats or by hand in very shallow waters. On Isla Bonita, Belize, volunteers devised a unique method of using a seine net to harvest the floating sargassum out of the water” (Hinds et al, 2016).
Are there shark attacks in Cancun?
Shark Attacks in Cancun
Nevertheless, shark attacks have indeed occurred in Cancun. There will likely be another at some point in the future, as long as sharks and tourists share the same environment. Strangely, there were several attacks in a very short space of time in 2011.
What months is seaweed bad in Playa del Carmen?
“We are evaluating together with the Navy, as we know, the seaweed arrival season is about to end, it officially ends on September 30, the season has always been from March to September“, explained the official.
Are Cancun beaches swimmable?
Cancun offers a few “Blue Flag” rated beaches. These are safe beaches for swimming. They also offer disabled friendly access to the water.
Is it safe in Cancun Mexico?
Cancun is a safe town to visit – locals are friendly and crime rates are very low compared to other cities in Mexico. While most people never run into any trouble, there are several troublesome areas close to Cancun.
Does Cozumel have seaweed problem?
Cozumel. Cozumel is another island with west-facing beaches, just off the coast of Playa del Carmen.Some sargassum has been recorded on the east side of the island over the past year, but the west side has been almost completely seaweed free. Continue to 3 of 10 below.
Where does the seaweed in Cancun come from?
This seaweed is also known as ‘Sargazo’ or ‘Sargassum’, it supposedly comes from the Sargazo Sea in the Atlantic Ocean. The sargazo is dragged along with the ocean current, to the coasts of some Caribbean countries, including our state of Quintana Roo.
What is the best beach in Cancun?
The following are some of the best beaches in Cancun for you to explore.
- Playa Chac Mool.
- Playa Delfines.
- Tulum Beach.
- Playa Norte Isla Mujeres.
- Playacar Beach.
- Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.
- Playa Maroma.
- Akumal Beach.
What causes seaweed to wash up on beaches?
Data gathered over the past decade has revealed the likely causes of these seaweed invasions: Saharan dust clouds, warming temperatures and the growing human nitrogen footprint. Just as nutrients feed red tide blooms, they feed sargassum, which thrives in warmer water.
Is Sargassum seaweed bad?
Sargassum is a type of brown seaweed that is washing up on beaches in Florida. As it rots, it gives off a substance called hydrogen sulfide.Although the seaweed itself cannot harm your health, tiny sea creatures that live in Sargassum can cause skin rashes and blisters.
