Mexico sargassum tourism hit by record seaweed surge

A record surge of sargassum has hit Mexico sargassum tourism, covering stretches of the country’s coastline with brown, foul-smelling seaweed. Al Jazeera reported that the bloom has contributed to a sharp fall in tourism along affected beaches.

The report showed workers posted along many beaches, using shovels to clear heaps of seaweed from the shoreline. The cleanup effort is aimed at removing the buildup from areas that normally draw visitors to Mexico’s coastal resorts.

How is sargassum affecting tourism in Mexico?

Al Jazeera reported that the seaweed has blanketed an idyllic coastline and damaged the beach experience tourists come for. The result, according to the report, has been a sharp drop in tourism in the affected areas.

Sargassum is a brown seaweed that can wash ashore in large quantities. In this case, Al Jazeera described it as smelly and widespread enough to require workers on numerous beaches to shovel it away by hand.

The report did not give tourism figures or identify specific resort towns, but it described the surge as a record one. The images showed the practical burden on beach crews as they worked to keep shorelines usable despite continuing accumulations of seaweed.

For visitors, the problem is immediate: seaweed piled along the waterline can change the look, smell and usability of a beach. For tourism operators, the presence of large amounts of sargassum can weaken demand for destinations that rely on clean shoreline access.

The situation leaves beach workers and tourism businesses dealing with a visible environmental problem during a period when coastal areas depend on visitor traffic. Al Jazeera published its report on July 29, 2026.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.