SEAWEED FREE

What is Sargassum?

Did you know? that the sargassum is a macroalga that appears on the coasts. They are two species both entirely free-floating. Sargassum grows by fragmentation which is a form of cloning itself. It continues growing even if they are broken into pieces. But, don’t worry It is not as bad as it seems, don´t be afraid.

I know, that for the sight and smell is not so pleasant, but it doesn´t hurt, on the contrary, the temporary deposit of sargassum on the seashore helps to combat the erosion of beaches, caused by wind and water. Also, they are a source of fertilizer for affected beaches. Yes, I know it is very smelly and its look is not cool, but it is best to maintain the extension of the beach.

Benefits

As you can see seaweed is very important for the coasts, please do not remove it all. Removing seaweed hurts the whole food chain, from microscopic bacteria to small mammals that feed on them.

Griffin, an ecologist who spent several months researching invertebrate communities on cleaned and uncleaned beaches in Scotland and Sweden. Found that the thicker the layer of seaweed, the greater the diversity of macroinvertebrate life.

Their leafy branches, the brownish or yellow colors and their many seeds are very characteristic. These seeds are gas-filled structures called pneumatocysts, which are mostly filled with oxygen. This oxygen allows them to float.

When Sargassum loses its floatage sinks, providing energy to fish and invertebrates at the bottom of the sea. It also provides an important addition to food sources available. This seaweed can extend for miles across the ocean.

This floating habitat provides food, refuge, and breeding grounds for different sea creatures like fish, sea turtles, crabs, shrimps, and many more.

Some animals, like the Sargassum fish (frogfish family), live their whole life in this habitat. It serves as a primary nursery area for some fish like mahi-mahi.

Other benefits are that they are great fertilizers.

Negative Impacts

1. The prolonged odor of the hydrogen sulfide when they stay at the coastline
2. The propels and fishing gears get stuck
3. Animals can’t find a way to open sea, like turtles.
4. It affects tourism, cause of view and smell

Eatable Sargassum What?

Because of the big amounts of sargassum and people start removing it from the beaches. It is a fact that sargassum is eatable, seaweed can be used in the culinary industry as a thickener and emulsifier. A Ritz Carlton bartender creates a sargassum cocktail. Would you try it?

Other uses

Nowadays they also design seaweed sketchers, bricks, soap, shampoo, even notebooks. I think it is very creative and nice! Great work researchers.

Sargassum Free

The sargassum comes from a natural open sea ecosystem, located in the northern Atlantic ocean, near Bermuda. Called the Sargassum Sea.

The climate change caused a huge amount of sargassum appeared a couple of years ago on some coasts of the Mexican Caribbean.

Sadly a lot of sargassum affected several beaches in Quintana Roo, like Playa del Carmen, Akumal, Puerto Morelos and many many more, here you will find some images:

                               

PUERTO MORELOS                                                                                                           PLAYA DEL CARMEN

 

 

 

Please do not panic, it is not that bad anymore.

Let me tell you something!!! If you are planning your vacations and you doubt coming to the Caribbean, I highly recommend paradise, Cozumel. The better way to arrive at these incredible beaches without this seaweed is by boat don’t worry we will take you to amazing places sargassum FREE, you will not regret it…

I must remind you that we can make the difference the climate change is increasing fast because of us, we must act fast, we have to recycle & take care of our beautiful world.