Why Is the Caribbean drowning in a record seaweed invasion_

A massive bloom of sargassum seaweed is wreaking havoc across the Caribbean, with a record-breaking 38 million metric tonnes smothering shorelines over the past month. The unprecedented influx is damaging tourism, harming wildlife, and even releasing toxic gases that forced a school closure in Martinique. Fishermen like José Rodríguez from Puerto Rico report significant disruptions to their livelihoods, as the seaweed interferes with fishing methods and drives away marine life.
The environmental impact extends beyond economic concerns, as the dark seaweed blocks sunlight from reaching vital coral reefs. While experts are still studying the exact causes of this explosive growth, potential factors include agricultural runoff, warming waters, and changes in wind patterns and ocean currents. The widespread effects of this sargassum bloom highlight the complex interplay between climate change, human activity, and marine ecosystems across the Caribbean region.

Al Jazeera's Paul Ging reports.

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