Ruptly
"The Mexican Navy Secretariat (Semar) is leading efforts to mitigate the arrival of massive quantities of sargassum along the coasts of Quintana Roo, collecting more than 28,000 tonnes of the macroalgae, according to the latest reports. Footage shows Semar staff harvesting sargassum off-coast, as others sort and process it on shore. Semar has 191 deployed personnel, as well as 16 vessels including an ocean-going vessel and 11 coastal ships designed to collect sargassum and prevent it from reaching the shore. Authorities also reported that 7,530 meters of barriers and anchorage have been installed in the municipalities of Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Mahahual. Actions are concentrated in critical areas to contain and collect the seaweed that impacts tourism and ecosystems. In large quantities, sargassum covers the beaches, hindering recreational activities. It also consumes oxygen as it rots, killing fish, turtles and other marine life. Its massive proliferation on Mexican coasts began in 2011, with record arrivals of more than 300,000 tonnes in 2015. Factors such as excess nutrients, global warming, and changes in ocean currents have caused sargassum to become a health and economic problem."
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