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Mexico President Unveils Sargassum Plan for Beaches

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Mexico's President unveiled a comprehensive plan to combat the massive influx of sargassum, a stinky, brown algae that has been choking the country's Caribbean beaches and threatening its vital tourism industry.

The seaweed crisis has plagued Mexico and the broader Caribbean region for more than a decade, but scientists warn this year's bloom is setting records for both volume and early arrival, with satellite imagery showing unprecedented masses floating in the Atlantic.

The government's strategy includes deploying naval vessels for offshore collection, installing barrier systems near popular beaches, and coordinating with hotels for rapid shoreline cleanup. Officials emphasize the need for regional cooperation since the algae originates in the Sargasso Sea and travels via ocean currents.

Environmental experts caution that while removal efforts are necessary, long-term solutions require addressing root causes like nutrient runoff from agriculture and climate change impacts on ocean temperatures that fuel sargassum growth.