He sargasso It has been a headache for the tourist industry on Mexican beaches, not only because it affects the activities of bathers, but also because it affects local marine species.
Now the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has launched an alert about an unprecedented situation: the largest amount of sargassum recorded in history is approaching Mexican beaches.
This map shows the density of the algal mass in the mid-Atlantic Ocean (including the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico) in March 2023.
“Researchers at the University of South Florida (USF) College of Marine Sciences estimate that, in March, the sargassum belt accumulated a total of about 13 million tons, which is a record amount for this time of year. ”, the US agency said in a statement.
NASA has recorded historic levels of sargassum that threaten the beaches of Mexico
According to NASA, patches of floating brown kelp have stretched from the west coast of Africa to the Gulf of Mexico in what is known as the “great Atlantic sargassum belt.”
In March 2023, scientists found that the amount of sargassum floating in this belt was the largest of any March on record.
Why is this amount of seaweed rare? According to NASA, the density of this algae normally peaks in June or July, still within a few months, but there were already signs in March that the bloom in 2023 could be the largest ever recorded.
Effects of these algae on the beaches
Sargassum, which is a type of seaweed, can create a thick layer that covers the sand, preventing tourists from enjoying the beach and affecting economic activities that depend on tourism.
Also, when decomposed, this algae produces an unpleasant odor and can attract insects and other unwanted animals. It can also affect marine life and coastal ecosystems. Therefore, the accumulation of sargassum on the beaches is a problem that must be addressed effectively to protect both tourism and the environment.
Editorial Team The editorial team of EMPRENDEDOR.com, which for more than 27 years has worked to promote entrepreneurship.