Massive Influx of Pelagic Sargassum spp. on the Coasts of the Mexican Caribbean 2014-2020: Challenges and Opportunities

Since late 2014, the Mexican Caribbean coast has periodically received massive, atypical influxes of pelagic Sargassum spp. (sargasso). Negative impacts associated with these influxes include mortality of nearshore benthic flora and fauna, beach erosion, pollution, decreasing tourism and high management costs. To understand the dynamics of the sargasso influx, we used Landsat 8 imagery (from 2016 to mid-2020) to record the coverage of sargasso in the sea off the Mexican Caribbean coastline, with a maximum reported in September 2018. Satellite image analysis also showed local differences in the quantity of beached sargasso along the coastline. Over the years, good practice for collection on the beach and for off-shore collection of sargasso have been established through trial and error, and the Mexican Government and hotel industry have spent millions of dollars on removal and off-shore detention of sargasso. Notwithstanding, sargasso also has various properties that could be harnessed in local industries. The stimulation of local industrial growth would offer alternatives to the dependence on tourism, as a circular economy, based on sargasso, is developed.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Valeria Chávez, ABIGAIL URIBE MARTINEZ, Eduardo Cuevas, ROSA ELISA RODRIGUEZ MARTINEZ, BRIGITTA INE VAN TUSSENBROEK RIBBINK, Vanessa Francisco, MIRIAM ROCIO ESTEVEZ GONZALEZ, María de Lourdes Berenice Celis García, LUZ VERONICA MONROY VELAZQUEZ, ROSA MARIA LEAL BAUTISTA, Lorenzo Alvarez_Filip, MARTA GARCIA SANCHEZ, LUIS MASIA NEBOT, Rodolfo Silva
Format:	info:eu-repo/semantics/article biblioteca
Language:	eng
Subjects:	info:eu-repo/classification/Autores/SARGASSO DYNAMICS, info:eu-repo/classification/Autores/OCEAN COVERAGE, info:eu-repo/classification/Autores/BEACH CAST VOLUMEN, info:eu-repo/classification/Autores/SARGASSO USES, info:eu-repo/classification/cti/1, info:eu-repo/classification/cti/25, info:eu-repo/classification/cti/2510, info:eu-repo/classification/cti/251004,
Online Access:	http://cicy.repositorioinstitucional.mx/jspui/handle/1003/1887
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