Swaths of sargassum seaweed are blanketing the beaches and coastlines of the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, suffocating shorelines and snuffing out marine life while driving away tourists in areas that depend heavily on visitor spending.

Some 27 million metric tons of self-sustaining sargassum have been recorded in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico in July alone, according to a report released by the University of South Florida's Optical Oceanography Lab.

This year marks the first time scientists have observed sargassum growing in large quantities directly in these regions rather than being swept in by ocean currents from Western Africa.

What the Right Is Saying

Conservative commentators and some regional officials emphasize local control and private-sector solutions over federal intervention.

They note that Mexico's government has committed $115 million toward addressing the crisis independently, with crews in areas like Martinique collecting more than 11,500 tons of sargassum this year through a combination of sea barriers and manual removal.

Some business groups argue that streamlined permitting for seaweed processing facilities could turn an environmental burden into an economic opportunity.

The seaweed collected is already being stored and processed for composting and bioenergy production in several Caribbean territories.

Critics of expansive federal environmental policy question whether climate-focused explanations oversimplify the phenomenon, noting that sargassum blooms have occurred naturally throughout history. They advocate for prioritizing immediate practical responses over longer-term atmospheric policy debates.

What the Left Is Saying

Environmental advocates and Democratic-leaning researchers say the crisis underscores the need for coordinated federal investment in solutions to address what they call a climate-driven environmental emergency.

Emmanuel Maldonado González, an environmental sociologist at East Carolina University, said the annual blooms are becoming a permanent hazard rather than an isolated event. "It's not a one-off event anymore," he said. "It's becoming a growing hazard."

Marine scientists and oceanographers argue that agricultural runoff entering waterways contributes to nutrient overloads that fuel algae growth.

Brian Barnes, a marine scientist and research assistant professor at the University of South Florida, pointed to warming waters and changes in wind patterns as likely contributors to the expanding Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt, which has been growing since 2011.

Environmental justice groups note that Caribbean island nations and U.S. territories bear disproportionate economic harm from tourism losses while having limited resources for cleanup operations.

They argue wealthier nations should provide technical assistance and funding to protect these vulnerable coastal communities.

What the Numbers Show

The data reveals an accelerating trend: scientists recorded 40 million metric tons of sargassum in 2025, surpassing the previous record of approximately 22 million metric tons set in 2022.

June 2026 alone saw 34 million metric tons—only 10% lower than the year-earlier period. Sargassum levels in the Caribbean reached record highs that month.

The Gulf of Mexico hit 5 million metric tons in June, nearly double last year's record for the region.

On peak days, up to 9,000 tons reach Mexico's Caribbean coastline; current Mexican resources can gather only 1,200 tons daily.

A study published earlier this year by researchers at the University of South Florida and NOAA found that macroalgae blooms increased by more than 13% per year in the tropical Atlantic and Western Pacific from 2003 to 2022. The total area covered reached 16.9 million square miles (43.8 million square kilometers).

In Martinique, crews collected 638 tons of seaweed in just four days this month alone.

U.S. Virgin Islands residents report walking up to 25 feet on mats of seaweed before reaching water.

The EPA warns that decaying sargassum emits ammonia and hydrogen sulfide gases that can cause nausea, headaches and lung irritation among affected communities.

The Bottom Line

Scientists expect 2026 to be the second largest amount of sargassum recorded in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.

With tourism-dependent economies in Mexico's Quintana Roo state reporting 30% sales drops in the first half of the year due to discolored waters, the economic stakes are significant.

Researchers continue studying whether warming ocean temperatures, agricultural nutrient runoff, or shifting current patterns best explain the sustained growth since 2011. Barnes said the phenomenon defies easy categorization: "None of this is normal. Every year is a little bit of a new story."

What to watch: Whether Mexico's $115 million investment produces measurable relief for affected coastlines, and whether other Caribbean nations adopt similar processing-for-bioenergy approaches that could turn cleanup costs into revenue streams.

The smell of rotten eggs permeates communities where large piles of decaying sargassum emit toxic gases. Officials on Martinique recently opened a temporary shelter to house those affected by the fumes after residents protested the health impacts.