Sargassum seaweed is a type of brown seaweed that is found in the Sargasso Sea in the North Atlantic Ocean. It floats in large quantities and can be transported by ocean currents to the Caribbean, where it can wash up on beaches in massive amounts. While sargassum is a natural occurrence and provides important habitat for marine life, the large quantities that have been washing up on Caribbean shores during the warmer summer months in recent years.
One of the major ways that sargassum seaweed can affect Caribbean vacations is by making the beaches less attractive to visitors. The seaweed can accumulate in large masses on the shoreline. It is prone to hit beaches with Atlantic Ocean exposure while the western beaches that face the Caribbean have lessor exposure.
Despite these challenges, many Caribbean islands are taking steps to manage the sargassum seaweed and minimize its impact on visitors.
If you're planning a Caribbean vacation and are concerned about the potential impact of sargassum seaweed, it's important to do your research ahead of time. We recommend booking villas on the west coast of islands and traveling in cooler months. With a little planning and flexibility, you can still have a wonderful Caribbean vacation, even in the face of this natural occurrence.
For further information, please visit NOAA.