Coastal paradises under pressure: Record algae plague Caribbean tourism!

Coastal paradises under pressure: Record algae plague Caribbean tourism!

Punta Cana, Dominikanische Republik - The Caribbean is faced with a record plague of Sargassum algae, which endangers tourism, one of the most important sources of income in the region. In 2025, the amount of these algae alarming 38 million tons, such as Merkur reported. This has been the largest amount since the beginning of the investigations in 2011, with the previous high at around 22 million tons in June 2022, so Tagesschau . The effects are considerable for vacationers and the local population.

measures against the algae plague

Popular travel destinations like Punta Cana have built barriers to keep the algae away. These preventive measures are necessary because the algae plague not only affects the holiday pleasure, but also damages the environment. Excavators are in use in St. Maarten to free the beaches from the algae. In addition, tractors for cleaning inserts are mobilized to minimize the stench.

The Dominican Republic, as the most visited country in the Caribbean, attracts 8.5 million tourists every year. About 5.3 million of this came from Europe, which corresponds to 89 percent of the 2019 level. Nevertheless, the increasing algae collections, which are favored by factors such as warmth of water and agricultural wastewater, can endanger tourist growth.

ecological effects and expert explanations

The explosion of algae growth observed by experts like Brian Barnes from the University of South Florida gives rise to concern. Causes such as the warming of the water, changes in wind and currents as well as agricultural wastewater could tighten the situation. Even if some algae accumulations in the open sea represent a healthy ecosystem, they bring considerable disadvantages near the coast by blocking sunlight and suffocating coral reefs.

The Caribbean is faced with an acute challenge. Experts expect a further increase in the coffin quantities in the coming months, which increases the need for effective solutions in the tourism industry and in environmental protection. The travel destinations urgently need to find ways to preserve the beauty and accessibility of their beaches for tourists.