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“A New Study Reveals the Triggering Factor Behind Massive Sargassum Blooms” Since 2011, massive sargassum strandings have disrupted marine ecosystems and coastal communities in the tropical Atlantic. A recent study, published in Communications Earth & Environment, highlights a key element behind this phenomenon: an extreme North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) event in 2009-2010. An Ecological Shift […]

Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo. The beaches of Mexico, natural treasures cherished by millions of visitors, are facing a growing threat: sargassum. This macroalgae, which accumulates annually along the shores of the Mexican Caribbean, could reach levels in 2025 not seen since the critical crisis of 2015. This warning, issued by Brigitta Ine Van Tussenbroek, head

Florence Ménez : Teacher-researcherClio Maridakis : Algae diversity & Sargassum influx | PhD Student – Environmental & Circular Economy Engineer | Co-host of The Sargassum PodcastFranziska Elmer : Head of Science at Seafields /Research Fellow at The School for Field Studies/ Host and Executive Producer of The Sargassum Podcast / Island Innovation Ambassador / Climate

In an effort to address the challenges posed by massive accumulations of Sargassum on the coast of Puerto Rico, the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA) has recently unveiled its final management protocol. A key decision in the protocol is the formal exclusion of Sargassum use for agricultural or human consumption purposes, including composting.

This week, distinguished researchers from the University of South Florida unveiled a startling discovery: an unprecedented proliferation of Sargassum in the tropical Atlantic Ocean. In the vicinity of the junction between the Caribbean Sea and the ocean, an exceptional accumulation of nearly 5 million tons of Sargassum algae was measured last December, marking a dramatic