The amount of algae on the beaches of the Caribbean coast of Mexico in the current year 2021 will be similar to or even exceed the record level of 2018. This forecast was made by hydrobiologist Esteban Amaro Mauricio, head of the environmental organization Red de Monitoreo del Sargazo. The Sargassum Algae Monitoring Network monitors the situation on 80 beaches in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, publishing daily maps and reports on coastal conditions.
Esteban Amaro bases his predictions on the amount of algae that has already arrived on the state's beaches and is still in the ocean and moving towards the Mexican shores. The estimates take into account satellite data on the amount of algae in the ocean, which is provided by the University of South Florida, USA.
Sargassum algae began to appear in large quantities on Mexican beaches every year since 2011. The ecologist says that a three-year cycle of their arrival is already obvious — Every three years, the amount of algae in the ocean becomes critically high. The first peak occurred in 2015. Then in 2018 there were record high amounts of algae arriving on Mexican beaches. It is obvious that this year we will see the next peak.
In 2019, algae arrived on Mexican beaches for only 4 months, while in the peak year of 2018 they arrived within six months. No one knows how long this year's algae season will last.
At the same time, Esteban Amaro emphasized that different beaches will be affected to varying degrees. There will also be beaches where there will be no algae at all.
The abnormal growth of algae in the South Atlantic is believed to be associated with climate change, excessive deforestation and mangroves on the west coast of Africa, and the widespread use of agricultural chemicals in the Amazon region. Originating in the ocean between the coasts of Africa and Brazil, algae travel across the Atlantic, and their mass is constantly increasing. They reach the Antilles and then pollute the beaches of almost all Caribbean countries and American Florida.
As of June 20, 2021, 40 beaches along Mexico's Caribbean coast had excessive algae levels, more than half of the beaches monitored. On 17 beaches the amount of algae was moderate and average, on 4 beaches — low, and on 18 beaches there was no algae at all. The cleanest beaches are located on the islands of Holbox, Isla Mujeres and Cozumel, and also in Cancun. The most polluted beaches — in the Riviera Maya, from Tulum and Playa del Carmen to Punta Nizuc in Cancun.
Actualización de llegada de#Sargazoen las costas de#QuintanaRoo, por parte de la Red de Monitoreo del Sargazo de Quintana Roo.pic.twitter.com/JoAWJ4OHJA
— ACLUVAQ (@AcluvaqOficial)June 20, 2021
The amount of algae on the beaches depends on the topography of the coast, the direction and speed of sea currents and winds and can constantly change. On some beaches, algae lies in a thick layer, and public utilities are unable to remove it. Decomposing algae causes an unpleasant odor, the water turns brown, and vacationers lose the desire to swim.
The Mexican Navy and contracting companies began urgently installing new anti-algae barriers off the coast of Playa del Carmen and Tulum. However, bad weather forced work to be suspended for several days. The barriers have not proven their effectiveness, however, without them there would be even more algae. The Navy's efforts to contain the algae are also insufficient. The military says another 4,500 tons of algae will wash up on the coast of Quintana Roo state in the coming days. In total, since the beginning of the year, almost 16,000 tons of algae have already been collected from the beaches.
Let us remind you that the problem of the seasonal appearance of algae on the beaches of Cancun and the Riviera Maya has been acutely assessed since 2015. In , algae became a real natural disaster, threatening regional tourism. The Mexican government allocated significant funds to combat them, and the navy was appointed responsible for collecting algae at sea. Algae barriers have been placed along many beaches along the Caribbean coast, and municipal beach cleanup staff have been significantly increased.
📸#Fotogalería| ¡Cuídate! Si pretendes visitar las playas de#Cancún,#QuintanaRoo, el#sargazopodría sorprenderte, aunque ni esto ni el#COVID19, detuvo al#turismopara disfrutar de los rayos de Sol en el#CaribeMexicano😰pic.twitter.com/GHBfgmitoC
— Por Esto! Online (@PorEstoOnline)August 4, 2021
However, at the moment, a clear strategy for controlling Sargassum algae is still missing. Barrier installation companies are hired at the last minute, and tenders for the purchase of cleaning equipment are controversial. The state standard for algae management has not been adopted, processing has not been established, and burial sites have not been determined. As a result, the algae is transported and dumped anywhere, rotting and polluting the aquifer.
In 2020, the arrival of large amounts of algae on the beaches of Cancun occurred during the period of beach closures due to the coronavirus epidemic, for this reason the problem was not felt so acutely.
This year, the appearance of algae coincided with a massive arrival of foreign travelers after a number of countries came out of quarantine. Hoteliers themselves complain that accumulations of algae on Cancun beaches cause discomfort among tourists. They take photos and post them on social media, which paints a negative picture of Mexican resorts and has already led to cancellations of bookings.