As a country bordering two oceans, Mexico is surrounded by one of the world’s largest producers of seaweed, and historically, its coastlines have experienced immense algal blooms. Over the years, the country has been struggling to remain on top of its seaweed demands with its natural resources depleting at an unsettling rate, all while trying to recover from the damage and destruction of the blossom of seaweed commonly known as Sargassum.
Sargassum is a type of algae that has been blooming in the Caribbean Sea for years. It has become an increasingly intense issue in Mexico, a country with many shorelines and tourist destinations that are known for their beaches and blue waters. The impact of this phenomenon has left many locals concerned about their quality of life and business. According to the Mexican National Water Commission, the bloom of the plant on the coasts of the Yucatán Peninsula has increased significantly over the last few years, affecting economic activities like fishing and tourism, yet, even more severely, hindering access to clean water in surrounding communities.
Despite of the country’s efforts to address the problem, including the investment of millions of dollars in the removal of the seaweed, some scientists, such as Dr. Raúl Medina Jiménez, argue that the current efforts are not enough, as the cause of the problem remains unknown and thus, unresolved. In fact, Dr. Medina suggests that the potential root causes of this condition could be related to global climate change, increasing levels of ocean warming and more. According to his observations, when oceans warm, seaweed can grow and spread further, which would explain why there have been larger blooms in countries near the equator like Mexico, and other areas with warm climates.
On the other hand, some of the population seems to believe that more economic interests than environmental conservation redirect the country’s focus from the solution of the seaweed problem and establish a wide net of stigmatization around it, minimizing its potential impacts. This is reflected in some of the comments from people living in coastal cities, who have coined the term “Sargasifobia” as an expression of their anxiety, sadness and fear of the apparent lack of action taken by the government.
Although the cause of the problem is still uncertain, the issue of seaweed on the coasts of Mexico is far from solved. Its effects on this country are vast and concerning, yet, the government continuously looks for ways to address the problem in the most effective way. The Mexican National Water Commission, for instance, has developed a program called “Conagua Challenges” to encourage the improvement of the quality of water and the conservation of natural resources in each of Mexico’s coastal territories.
Environmental Adverse Effects
As the federal government of Mexico works on the solution of the seaweed problem, one of the major challenges it faces is the rising environmental degradation caused by the presence of the algae in the country’s coastal areas. The most severe environmental impacts resulting from this issue are the loss of biodiversity, the decline of the oxygen concentration on the ocean water, as well as the negative effects algae on the quality of the ocean’s surface.
In particular, some species of Sargassum algae are capable of emitting hydrogen sulfides that contaminate the coasts of nearby communities, consequently, decreasing the oxygen concentration on the surface. The most affected species are the filter-feeders, which make up a great part of the nearshore near-bottom food chain, leading to poor water quality and the decrease in the population of some species of fish. Scientists indicate that the presence of the algae also generate concentrations of micro-plastics in the ocean, which is a major threat to the health of the marine life.
Other environmental harms such as beach erosion, fouling on the seabed, and the buildup of smothering mat assemblages on the coast, have been reported in some locations that are particularly plagued by Sargassum. In addition to these, the large bloom of the plant has been a threat to offshore islands, which have suffered the devastating effects of the substance washing ashore in great masses, consequently endangering their habitats and species.
Environmental Solutions
Because of the severe effects the increased seaweed production has had on the Mexican beaches, alternative solutions designed to reduce the presence of the seaweed have been implemented. In the Yucatán Peninsula, for instance, the government has been experimenting with bio-digestion, a costly underground process also known as anaerobic digestion, in order to reduce the presence of the algae on the coasts. While this system seems to have proven successful, it unfortunately cannot be used in other parts of the country, like nearby areas such as Veracruz and Quintana Roo.
The Caribbean countries have also organized common efforts to combat the negative effect of sargassum on the beaches and beside the development of several techniques to remove the seaweed, other options have been discussed like the creation of a Sargassum Observatory, whose objective is the observation of the levels of the alga in order to alert to its presence on the coasts.
Furthermore, the government has also been looking into possible ways of recycling and making use of the leftover algae. These have included ideas like the transformation of the plant into fuel, fertilizer and even, food. In that sense, some coastal cities have launched programs that provide raw materials to the local industry in order to promote the development of products made out of sargassum, such as jewelry and other decorative items.
Economic Impact
From an economic point of view, the bloom of the Sargassum can be seen as a burden, as it has caused thousands of local businesses to loss money. Commercial activities such as fishing and tourism, two of the most important sources of income, have had to take drastic measures in order to stand up to the negative effects of the algae. When the seaweed end up in the beaches, people are not willing to go to the beach for vacationing, and most of the tourists leave in search of other places, thus causing a severe decrease in the local economy.
In this regard, Maria Polanco, a resident of Tulum, explains how hard it has been to keep up the business of her local kayak rental when the seaweed is present. According to her, the seaweed disrupts the marine environment in such a way that it discourages people from going to the beach, consequently leading to a sharp decrease in business.
The same can be said about the fishermen, whose catches have been diminished, even though the Ministry of Agriculture has created strategies and plans to improve the fishing industry. In addition, the presence of seaweed has caused the government to establish large efforts in the removal of the algae from the coastlines, leading to the expense of millions of dollars in the process.
Socio-economic Consequences
In terms of socio-economic aspects, the bloom of the algae has been detrimental to the wellbeing of the local communities on the coasts of Mexico, mostly affecting those least capable of adapting to the consequences of the problem. In terms of water supply, for example, local people have had to face being cut off from their only source of drinking water due to the presence of the algae. Moreover, the local fishermen have experienced a decrease in their income generated from fishing, forcing them to face serious economic difficulties over the course of the last years.
Additionally, people living on the coasts of Mexico are not the only victims of the bloom of Sargassum, as the problem has been traveling further from its home. On the Yucatán Peninsula, the presence of the algae has had a significant impact on the quality of life of the people living there. In some cases, the presence of the seaweed has penetrated the drainage system, forcing the government to spend millions of dollars in its removal.
Transport of the seaweed, in many cases, can’t be prevented, therefore, the government has developed plans to reduce the economic and social impacts of the algae. During the last few years, organizations such as The Yucatán Social Projects (YSP) have developed ways to raise awareness and engage the locals in the removal of the seaweed. Through social projects, they have encouraged people to help reclaim their coastlines and have even created sustainable methods to make use of the Sargassum for other purposes, such as flower arrangments and other decorations.
Natural Ecosystem
Despite of the damage and destruction caused by Sargassum, the latest research indicates that the plant is actually an important part of the environment and its ecosystem. According to marine biologists, Sargassum provides refuge and nutrients to many species of fish and other organisms, as well as protecting the sea’s shorelines from winds and wave energy. Some scientists even suggest that the presence of the algae can help create a natural barrier against powerful storms and hurricanes.
As it happens with any kind of plant, the presence of Sargassum can also help reduce the emission of carbon dioxide and make the ocean waters more productive and nutrient-rich. In
