This summer is on pace to match or exceed those years. These experimental Sargassum Inundation Reports (SIR) Bayahibe, a beautiful resort town about an hours drive from Punta Cana, offers pristine beaches free of seaweed all year. As per the latest data and satellite images, it is clear that Punta Cana and other Caribbean countries will face a huge sargassum crisis in 2023. Sea turtles typically nest above the high tide line so their eggs stay dry. So things could soon get messier, smellier andeven potentially slightly toxic in the weeks to come as seaweed rots along Space Coast beaches, presenting major snags for surf fishermen and a tangled, smelly mess for other beachgoers. Puerto Rico: Buscan soluciones en el Caribe al sargazo, que marc un rcord histrico, Afrique : Influence des algues sargasses (sargassum fluitans, sargassum natans) sur les activits socioconomiques le long du littoral ivoirien Cte dIvoire Afrique de louest, Puerto Rico : Record amount of seaweed chokes Caribbean beaches and shoreline, Mexico : SARGAZO PROVOCA MUERTE DE TORTUGAS EN MAHAHUAL. Scientists are concerned. The Sargassum a seaweed that grows in the Atlantic will be arriving and flowing onshore, and it could be extra abundant this year. Seasonal seaweed is nothing new as its been creeping up since 2011, but experts have been looking into the cause. However, there are still numerous places in Punta Cana that are completely sargassum-free, allowing you to enjoy Punta Canas world-famous gorgeous beaches without concern for seaweed. Report inappropriate content 1-10 of 12 replies Sorted by 1 2 SDT The seaweed's proliferation is "almost like a barometer of our alteration of nitrogen cycles," Lapointe said. Nitrogen-dense runoff from fertilizers, winds and currents could be a factor too. According to Reportur, the amount of sargassum floating in the Central Atlantic Ocean in November 2022 increased to an astounding 6 million tons by December 2022. It also broke the previous January record set in 2018. Learn about the problem of seaweed (sargassum) in Cancun, Mexico, and the efforts being made by the city and local businesses to remove it and prevent it from washing ashore. Anticipating sargassum season. Scientists are concerned. In black are areas with not enough data. Its too early to know how much seaweed will reach Floridas beaches, but it has shown up in varying degrees and depths during every major growth year, hitching a ride on the loop current to assail the Keys and areas north from Miami to Jacksonville. For those who would like to contribute with a report of Sargassum sighting, please go to this page. The tools and understanding provided by these efforts can be utilized by future researchers and coastal zone managers for the purposes of education and outreach, enhanced coastal resiliency, and scientific advancement. <> "All we can do now is keep a close eye on what's going on.". The Sargassum aggregation in the east-central Atlantic (noted in previous bulletins) has continued to migrate westward and grow in size. Robert Webster ingeniously navigated the development of the SEAS Program. What is certain is 2023 will be a major sargassum year, Hu said. Here are our top picks for accommodations to stay in Bayahibe: Sargassum seaweed is usually harmless to humans when it is on water. Aruba SEAWEED Problem [2023]: Everything You Need To Know!! Bio. But, like in 2022, it is possible that Punta Cana may continue to be hit by small-scale sargassum waves even after September 2023. The maps below show Sargassum abundance, with warm colors representing higher values. It seems now that extreme blooms appear on an almost yearlybasis, and with increasingly more toxic potential. However,thefrequencyandquantityofsargassumwashingup on Caribbeanbeacheshasconsiderablyincreasedsince2015. . 458:46-56. Palm Beach, like many towns, cleans its public beaches with mechanical raking devices. Sargassum decomposes into stinging thick layers on the surface of the water, depleting the oxygen in the water and destroying the marine life in the area. Finally, from October 2023 to December 2023, Punta Cana is expected to remain sargassum-free. In 2022, Mexican federal officials expected the arrival of 32 thousand tons of sargassum seaweed in the country. Written by Kristen Kusek, Communications Director for USF CMS. This is very rare in history, said USF oceanography professor Chuanmin Hu, about the rapid growth. "2022 will be another major Sargassum year," stated the bulletin. Jamaica Seaweed Problem [2023]: Everything You Need To Know!! However, as I previously stated, this is a temporary problem that varies from day to day, season to season, and place to place. Hardy, R. F. (2014). By doing this they can see how much is located in the ocean. A sargassum forecast released this week by the University of South Florida said the amount of sargassum in the Central West Atlantic and Caribbean Sea is higher than previous years, which means . The APT James makes its way to the Port of Scarborough as sargassum invades the coastline in June 2021. Inst., 64:6-8. Sargassum peaks in summer, in June in July, there is no exception," explains Hu. Although the seaweed itself cannot harm your health, tiny sea creatures that live in Sargassum can cause in the Gulf of Mexico and tropical Atlantic. Robert Webster, lead developer of the original team, passed away in 2015 due to cancer. More:These mysterious 'devices' keep washing up on Floridas beaches. Sargassum -- your beach vacation nightmare. Since then, the Dominican Republics government and Punta Canas hoteliers have taken numerous big initiatives to address this issue, as tourism is the countrys main source of income. Small amounts of Sargassum coverage lingered in the central Caribbean Sea (CS), while essentially none was observed in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). The forecast for the arrival of seaweed ranges from medium intensity to very strong. Hu said 2023 will be another major sargassum year, possibly surpassing 2022. References: USF Sargassum Watch System, University of South Florida scientists said January was the second consecutive month that the amount of seaweed doubled, reaching 8.7 million tons, which is enough to fill about 3,000 Olympic size pools. Its early in the year I know, but the seaweed is blooming in the Carribean already. 4301 Rickenbacker Causeway While not toxic to humans, the rotting seaweed on the sand can create quite a strong odor. So, if you are planning a trip to Punta Cana, make sure to check the sargassum conditions on the beach or the place you intend to visit before you plan your trip. The University of South Florida's December . Puerto Rico Seaweed Problem [2023]: Everything You Need to Know! As a result, popular beach destinations on the Dominican Republics northern coast, such as Puerto Plata, are also excellent options for a sargassum-free beach vacation. Summer 2022 sargassum blew past previous records for June; July dropped a tad and August is pending, but the University of South Florida, which tracks sargassum, says there's so much sargassum floating in the open waters right now that we can expect what they call "beaching" for at least a couple more months. Sargassum Early Advisory System According to the University of South Florida's "Outlook of 2020 Sargassum ," the . But 2018 was among the worst in Florida, Lapointe said, adding that this year could rival that year's bloom. Beaches with the highest seaweed count include Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and some points between Cancun and Puerto Morelos. For centuries, pelagicSargassum, floating brown seaweed, have grown in low nutrient waters of the North Atlantic Ocean, supported by natural nutrient sources such as fish and invertebrates excretions andocean upwelling. However, the University of South Florida Optical Oceanography Lab said in a report that "2022 is likely going to be another moderate or major sargassum year," with observable amounts in all . But, the important point to note is that Punta Cana is much better prepared to tackle this problem in 2023 than it was in 2022. A year ago, fed by sewage and fertilizers in Brazil and thereabouts, the same seaweed kept coming all summer long. . But Lapointe says arsenic levels have been increasing in the seaweed as humans have contributed more nitrogen to the environment. SARGASSUM Sargassum is a type of brown seaweed that is washing up on beaches in Florida. "A lot of it is river runoff. International tourism to the country as a whole surpassed pre-pandemic levels in the first half of 2022, with 10.26 million visitors from January to June, 1.5% higher than the 10.11 million . Sargassum has impacted the Caribbean in so many ways. - 6p.m. 140 7th Avenue S, MSL119 However, if you want to know the current seaweed conditions you can check sargassummonitoring.com. Miles of This Stuff Is Stinking Up Florida Beaches - Videos from The Weather Channel Miles of This Stuff Is Stinking Up Florida Beaches May 10, 2022 Sargassum is at it again in South. Some years it's worse than others; 2011 and 2018 were record-setting. Milledge, J. J., B. V. Nielsen, and D. Bailey (2015). Don't let sargassum ruin your beach day! <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/Annots[ 11 0 R 12 0 R] /MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> stream The SEAS Program is an ongoing research effort from Texas A&M Galveston (TAMUG) that specializes in Sargassum seaweed movement and migration patterns, as well as identifying and understanding potential growth factors behind the blooms. Also, the level of Sargassum varies beach by beach, day by day, place by place, and season by season. Today we are looking at conditions at Puerto Morelos. endobj It literally fills manmade canals, coming right up in front of people's homes and surrounding docks.. Gower, J., E. Young, E., and S. King (2013), Satellite images suggest a new Sargassum source region in 2011, Remote Sens. This is the collection of Presentations from the Sargassum Symposium.Feel free to download what you wish. Using as core inputs the AFAI (Alternative Floating Algae Index) fields These events can cause significant economic, environmental and public health harm. Sargassum is a type of seaweed, or brown algae, that spends its life on the ocean's surface and floats in large masses. Smetacek, V., and A. Zingone (2013). Sargassum is definitely a big concern for tourists planning a vacation to Punta Cana. SIR is the result of the collaboration between the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory Address: 948 Beach Rd, Sarasota, FL 34242 Why You Need To Go: The water clarity is reported as moderate here, and while the beach is clear of debris, keep an eye out for some jellies in the water. Its all over the place. But as fertilizers, wastewater and other human sourcehave increased the nitrogen and phosphorus into rivers, the seaweed has been growing out of control over the past decade. Palm Beach vs West Palm Beach for Vacation [2023] :An Honest Comparison to Help You Choose! The seaweed originated from the tropical Atlantic, and is believed to be a result of climate variability and other natural and unnatural processes. The bulletins started in early February 2018, and they are meant to give an outlook of Sargassum bloom probability in certain regions in the upcoming months, based on bloom conditions in previous months, and previous years. We are Cayman Islands' most trusted news source. Ive never seen it like this. According to the Oceanographic Institute, which works in conjunction with the . It is also a marine resource for other uses such as biomass for food, fuel, and as a possible source of pharmaceutical materials. Its current biomass is estimated to be from 1.7 . Outlook of 2022 Sargassum blooms in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico* Punta Cana is expected to face a huge sargassum crisis in 2023.Punta Cana Seaweed Season 2022Punta Cana seaweed season usually runs from March to September every yearBest Seaweed-free Beaches in Punta CanaBayahibe, Macao beach, and Uvero Alto. This January already set a record for all previous January months.. However, you must understand that the sargassum is a natural phenomenon. The rotten egg smell in the Keys from the decomposing sargassum has prompted at least one online guidebook to have a chapter titled Why do the Florida Keys smell like sulfur?. Depending on winds and current, researchers estimate an early July arrival.. In 2022, Punta Canas shoreline experienced a record-breaking influx of seaweed, ruining the beauty of its world-famous beaches and making it difficult for tourists to explore water activities. Never, said Gigi Rodriguez, a beachgoer trying to avoid the soggy situation on Dania Beach. Hu, C (2009), A novel ocean color index to detect floating algae in the global oceans, Remote Sens. These monthly bulletins are also made available at the bottom of this page. Researchers at NASA and the University of South Florida have confirmed their earlier warning of a growing bloom of sargassum seaweed, after satellite imagery captured the largest-ever April growth of the sea-surface algae. Aruba SEAWEED Problem [2023]: Everything You Need To Know!! the neighborhood (50 km) of each coastal pixel and, computing the difference between those values Monitoring Sargassum distribution and abundance in the ocean in a timely fashion is of great importance for studying ocean ecology, helping fishery management, and forecasting Sargassum beaching events. Hotels in Punta Cana are investing heavily in cutting-edge technology and skilled manpower to tackle this problem. At first blush it might seem like sargassum is just a big mess, causing nothing but work and problems. In fact, many places in Punta Cana are now protected by seaweed barriers in 2023, and the local hotels also have dedicated staff that works diligently day and night to keep the beaches clean. An airline also asked for his advice when it was deciding its schedule so as not to load up on flights to sargassum-rich areas during tourist season. 4, 764773. Florida Seaweed Problem 2022: Everything You Need to Know! Mar. These mysterious 'devices' keep washing up on Floridas beaches. However, excessive amounts of Sargassum on beaches in populated areas can cause a lot of problems and they must be physically removed. Nests below the high tide line are usually marked by sea turtle monitors so the rakes can avoid them. We tried to go farther in, but the farther you get, the more seaweed youre going to get all over, said Tanya Suarez, another beachgoer on Dania Beach. 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