Sargassum seaweed crisis in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico

Massive blooms of sargassum seaweed are washing ashore across the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, smothering coastlines and harming marine ecosystems. The influx is threatening tourism-dependent economies in the region, as visitors are deterred by the thick, foul-smelling mats of algae blanketing beaches. Scientists and local governments are grappling with how to manage and remove the seaweed at scale. The crisis has become a recurring seasonal problem, with this year's bloom among the most severe on record.