Mexico struggles to contain seaweed build-up in beach hotspots
Huge mounds of seaweed is piling up on the beachs in the Mexican resort area of Cancun, blighting the popular beauty spot.
The Mexican government has set up a task force to dispose of the sargassum seaweed – but the problem is it just keeps coming.
Over 500 cubic metres of sargassum was removed last week, according to reports, and more has washed up since then, creating huge brown mounds along the beach.
Sargassum is an algae that grows in the Sargasso Sea, a large body of warm water in the mid-Atlantic.
Seaweed is not uncommon in the area, however it is thought high levels of nutrients in ocean water or changes in ocean temperatures, currents or wind patterns has led to a bigger build up this year.
Although it is an eyesore, scientists say it is ecologically important. Any attempts to remove it have to ensure nesting sea turtles that return to the Caribbean beaches to lay their eggs are not disturbed.
The removal effort will focus from Holbox in the north down past Tulum to the south.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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