What is Sargasso?

The Sargasso problem , which has been seen mostly in recent years, is about the population of a species of macroalgae on the surface of the oceans, more specifically in Mexican things.

These macroalgae are called Sargasso and are a species of algae that is found in large quantities under the sea, being the shelter and food for a large number of marine species such as fish, turtles, crabs and even shrimp.

Although there have been occasions that these algae have been seen on the surface, this time they cover at least 1,000 kilometers of the beaches of Quintana Roo, having detrimental effects on both the ecosystem and people.

In fact, we must emphasize that this Sargasso problem , according to experts in marine science from Mexico, have expressed that it is due to pollution in the seas, which causes these algae to rise to the surface and begin their journey to the coasts.

Although it seems a common event, it is important to note that it has many negative effects not only on the ecosystem to which these plants belong, but also for those who live near the beaches of the Caribbean Gulf, as well as for tourists for various reasons.

How did this affect the premises and the environment?

As we mentioned, Sargasso is a type of alga that fulfills multiple useful functions in the ecosystem to which it belongs, so when attracted to the surface, many species can stop having something to eat and die.

In the same way, these algae serve as a shelter for turtles where, in addition to living, they place their young and as they do not have the presence of algae in their habitat, this cycle is affected. On the other hand, the rise of algae to the surface can have other consequences in the sea itself.

Among these consequences, we highlight the change of color in the sea waters, stops the process of oxygenation of the water and even generates gases (when decomposing on the surface) that cause the bad smell of the water, being this in turn harmful for those who find nearby.

For the latter we highlight the consequences of the Sargasso problem in the population of Quintana Roo and that is that, in addition to being algae that can stick and roll on the legs, they cause a bad smell, thus driving away tourists and those who are nearby.

Thanks to this, tourism in the area has dropped a lot, despite the fact that the same locals have taken on the task of cleaning these beaches, but with little success, since we are referring to a large amount of macroalgae.

The worldwide effect of the Sargasso problem

Although it is Mexico that is currently facing the Sargasso problem , the reality is that the increase in the amount of these algae that are floating in the ocean has been increasing in the last years.

This affects not only the Caribbean ocean, but also other regions such as Africa, more than 30 countries in America and Europe, although in the latter case, the impact is less compared to those mentioned first.

This Sargasso problem continues to expand more and more, as an alert recently reached the authorities about more macroalgae approaching the coasts of Quintana Roo, this time, with a diameter of 550 kilometers.

In addition to being affected a large part of the ocean with this problem, it is important to note that this phenomenon is mainly due to the action of man on the ocean with excessive pollution of the seas.

This can be seen with the presence of oil in rivers and seas, poor treatment of gray and black waters, and even contaminating beaches with glass and other objects, which, as we witness, have a long-term effect on these ecosystems.

What do the authorities think?

The authorities in the face of the Sargazo problem have not shown a very positive position for the locals in the area. In the case of the president, his first position on said problem is that it was not something serious and serious for this region of Mexico.

These statements caused a stir among the locals of Quitana Roo, who sent letters to the president and the relevant authorities to take charge of the situation, because as we mentioned, when the situation may occur that the algae decompose.

In this letter, the locals expressed how rotten the air becomes due to this decomposition of algae, as well as the way in which the region's economy is affected, since the presence of tourists is what generates foreign exchange for trade. .

On the other hand, expert scientists in the area began to make hypotheses about what causes this Sargasso problem, of which we can highlight the aforementioned pollution in the ocean, which not only causes these macroalgae but also the crystalline nature of these is lost. waters.

Finally, after so much insistence on the part of the citizens, the government of the current president has made the decision to take charge of the situation and invest the equivalent of 2.7 million dollars to solve it.

To this we add the presence of volunteers and locals who have chosen to clean the beaches with the help of shovels, as well as mayas placed in the ocean by hotel chains to prevent the passage of these macroalgae to the shore of the beach.