The Plan to Turn the Caribbean’s Glut of Sargassum Into Biofuel

The Caribbean, particularly Mexican coastal areas like Cancun and Quintana Roo, is facing an unprecedented influx of sargassum seaweed, with forecasts predicting up to 400,000 tons washing ashore this summer. This seaweed not only mars the region’s beaches and tourism appeal but also releases harmful gases such as hydrogen sulfide, methane, and carbon dioxide as it decomposes, negatively impacting local economies by an estimated 11.6% GDP drop in affected areas. The causes of these massive algal blooms remain uncertain, with potential factors including warmer ocean temperatures, increased agricultural runoff, and shifting ocean currents. To address this environmental and economic challenge, experts propose converting the sargassum into biofuel and construction materials. Engineer Miguel Ángel Aké Madera highlights that processing 500 tons of sargassum daily could produce 20,000 cubic meters of biogas, roughly equivalent to the daily fuel demand of an average Mexican gas station. This approach is favored over creating consumer products due