In May, record levels of sargassum algae were reported throughout the Caribbean, with 38 million tonnes detected, marking a significant rise from last year's 22 million tonnes. This algae is causing disruption along coastlines from Puerto Rico to Guyana, negatively impacting tourism and wildlife, and even leading to the temporary closure of a school in Martinique due to toxic gas emissions. While healthy in the open ocean, sargassum can be detrimental near shorelines, blocking sunlight necessary for coral reefs and smothering vital marine life.
The record amount of sargassum has now reached an unprecedented 38 million tonnes, significantly disrupting Caribbean coastlines, wildlife, and tourism.
The substantial increase in sargassum from previous records highlights alarming trends, yet the exact reasons for this growth remain largely unknown.
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