Record sargassum invasion threatens Punta Cana tourism

Punta Cana.- Rising volumes of sargassum are becoming an increasing challenge for tourism in Punta Cana, as record amounts of the macroalgae continue washing ashore across the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

According to the University of South Florida, about 9 million metric tons of sargassum accumulated in the region between January and June 30, 2026, surpassing the 8.3 million tons recorded during the same period last year and far exceeding the 1.2 million tons reported in 2024.

Tourists and local business owners say the growing influx is affecting the visitor experience. While hotels and private businesses regularly remove sargassum from their beaches using heavy equipment and manual labor, public beach areas often lack the resources to keep pace with the accumulating seaweed.

Tour operators and beachfront businesses in Bávaro say the algae’s appearance and odor discourage visitors from spending time on affected beaches, while property owners report spending thousands of dollars each day on cleanup efforts.

Beyond tourism—which accounts for roughly 19% of the Dominican Republic’s GDP—the growing sargassum problem is also harming marine ecosystems, disrupting local fishing activities, and creating unpleasant odors as it decomposes. Experts note that despite these challenges, the algae could also present economic opportunities through its use as fertilizer, biomass, and raw material for industrial products.