Seaweed has been a bit of a nuisance recently and a big problem for the main beachfront facilities and all their potential guests. Although algae forecasts predict that more sargassum will reach the shores of Cancun, hoteliers remain optimistic. This is because Isla Mujeres in Playa Norte acts as a natural barrier against the seaweed surge. However, if they come from the south, the navy will be used to prevent them from reaching the coasts.
Sargassum is a brown algae with floating bladders filled with oxygen that keep it floating on the surface of the water. It can be grouped into enormous masses, often miles long, and is known to extend along the shores of beaches along the Caribbean coast.
Local authorities placed the 2.5 km long fence as part of their ongoing efforts to prevent algae from reaching land, according to the Mexico News Daily. Authorities announced that this year 2.5 km of barriers will be installed in the seas of Playa del Carmen to protect its beaches and those of Cancun. Even if ocean currents change and unexpectedly bring algae to an area, you'll likely have multiple options for swimming and sunbathing off the island's coast.
