This Cancún Resort Fights 20,000 Tons of Invasive Seaweed Each Year | WSJ Booked

[@wsj]

The extreme effort to make that $10,000 adventure vacation seem effortless: on.wsj.com/3VwELYw

[@BeardedDragonMan1997]

Don’t care 😂

[@nonamebrojones5545]

Another major contributor to the sargassum explosion is Brazil. There are thousands of new farming operations popping up in the Amazon basin. These areas are clear cut and farmers there use fertilizer to grow crops more rapidly. This fertilizer eventually runs off into the Amazon River. It travels downstream into the Atlantic and eventually travels via the Atlantic current directly up to the Sargasso Sea. This fertilizer then causes the output of the Sargasso Sea to increase 1,000%. Brazil needs to be part of the solution to this environmental disaster that they've participated in creating.

[@vatren765]

All thanks to the evil CCP invested in Brazil and to ruin it.

[@AMPProf]

Ohh ok so Why we not eating it?

[@HarryShagnasty-sc9zd]

Toxic

[@eldiantre7346]

Farm runoff from Western Africa also contribute to this.

[@nanbragg6158]

And smth they never mention -funny is how many hotels were built on sand dunes, removing mangroves and polluting the underground rivers that end up in the ocean. Our government has never been interested in these matters, as long as they get their cut $ This hotel at least takes care of wildlife in their properties and other environmental issues

[@krj15489]

This is the Moon Palace resort in Cancun. Strange they didn't mention the property name once

[@alexwright1567]

Thought the same thing, sus

[@MrCheddahcheese]

They probably didn't want to be mentioned in case the issue has an influence on potential tourists to not stay there. Some tourists could see it as a negative so they may look at different resorts. I think it's a good thing but others may see it differently.

[@patallen5095]

Thanks for the info....was going to ask the name

[@cameron.t]

Careful? If you stay there you might have a therapeutic misadventure with some sargassum 😂

[@menikmati789]

are you being sargastic?

[@oliviao2238]

The smell of seaweed is a topic worth exploring in a video, considering its complex nature and the various compounds involved, such as dimethyl sulfide, contributing to its distinctive ocean aroma. I've noticed that the odor is more intense when I visit in December than on the East Coast. The flies make it a headache for sure even seen some in my drinks but that's my fault for going passed the line. I recall that a decade ago, it was easier to explore; now, it has become a more exclusive destination.

[@sbdiaries]

Such a dedicated team of people and skilled use of equipment, on diverting the seaweed ❤❤❤

[@wendyleonenko8962]

I just want to say a big Thank You to all those workers shown in this video for all their hard work. Your hard work allows us from Canada to visit your beautiful beaches and resorts.

[@RLDavis-h2h]

The irony is that the seaweed, spread thin, seems to create great dune protection and sand accumulation. Some raking is required to mound up and cover lightly with sand. Then, protect the sea oat plant area. Seaweed can be a great mulch for these sea grasses.

[@latinsb4u]

Yes but in small quantities and this happens every other day and is not pleasant. After the 2000s seeing getting worse. You thank Brazil for that

[@nanbragg6158]

Not in huge amounts tho, This is not normal and affects sealife as well. Too much is not good for anyone and that is just the result of humans polluting the water

[@RLDavis-h2h]

@@nanbragg6158 It really is a shame to see any seaweed go to the landfills. The Carolina Coast could desperately use all that material to rebuild flattened sand dunes.

[@zacharyferreira2469]

@@RLDavis-h2hcancun itself is losing beaches quite rapidly because of the removal of sargassum.

[@MexicoRealEstatewithParrish]

Free tip 👋🏼 If you want to enjoy sargassum free beaches, head over to Yucatan state. Progreso area is only 3.5 hours from Cancun and seaweed free beaches 🏖️

[@carloszenteno]

No comparison of the beaches....

[@MexicoRealEstatewithParrish]

@@carloszenteno we are Sargassum free in Yucatan state. Clear water 🌊

[@nozrep]

yah and it’s beautiful but if you want waves for surfing Progreso does not have them. Been to Progreso and it was awesome and beautiful. Also, it was when I was a boy and I wanted waves for boogie boarding. So I was a little disappointed. lol as a little boy might do. But looking back as an adult it’s a great memory.

[@nozrep]

@@carloszentenoprogreso’s beach are definitely just as pretty as Cancun in fact, actually. The difference is Progreso does not have as much infrastructure and resorts that cater to Americans in an American way. Progreso is more like you sleepy backwater beach town. But the beaches are just as pretty. So, lets get our stories correct about what the actual differences are, eh?

[@mybadoof4934]

Super cool this resort puts so much effort into maintaining the beach and returning the sand!

[@thevinceberry]

Labor is cheap and resort is own by the cartels so what you think.

[@russell-di8js]

Working with nature usually turns out cheaper & lasts longer. This solution works cos labour is cheap & the tourists are prepared to pay!

[@myconstruction]

So cool how these workers work smarter not harder.

[@yeewhiz]

Hands down one of the coolest efforts and jobs I've seen in a while.

[@colekarrh9114]

What some people see as a problem. I see it as a business opportunity. Let's go

[@bradfordjhart]

there was a guy in mexico making bricks out of them

[@bigsur21]

I’m thinking tacos ??

[@FadyDizzle]

Can the harvested seeweed be turned into fuel? Now that's a real opportunity

[@___beyondhorizon4664]

Some company tried to make flip flops a few years ago. I think maybe convert it into farm fishing feed

[@___beyondhorizon4664]

I didn't enjoy Cancun during my 9 hours transit between Mexico City and Lima in September 2023. It was so freaking hot and humid 🥵 the moment I walked outside the terminal and the sea of taxi drivers swam at tourist like 🦈 sharks smelling blood 😢

[@QuietJugung]

It would be interesting to hear seaweed industry experts advice and comments.

[@BVibezCDN]

This is a massive undertaking for tourism, and an incredible way of managing a changing ecosystem that humans operate within! Congrats on finding a sustainable way to manage the sand cycle 🎉

[@chaot7777]

Why dont they build biogas plants? Thats a lot of free energy and free fertilizer swimming there

[@elcampestrevoraz]

There are, even they use sargassum tomake bricks, biocombustble, and more products

[@treefarm3288]

I would like to have a farm in that area. The cleaned sargassum would be a great soil input and probably close to free. Just truck it away.

[@HarryShagnasty-sc9zd]

And you would farm toxic produce

[@TheDroppedAnchor]

Unusual to see a Murdoch-owned *news* org do a straight news story. Kudos

[@alexeykulikov2739]

The question i can’t avoid is “who is targeted and/or what is being sold?”

[@hoos3014]

Outside of their editorial page, the WSJ has always had great journalism.

[@alancadorette3447]

clean out salt grind it up and sell as farm fertilizer

[@andrewkeeton3627]

We get this stuff real bad in Texas too. Piled up 15 ft high for miles and miles. Smells horrible too

[@BellamyLeander]

I'm favoured, $60k every week! I can now give back to the locals in my community and also support God's work and the church. God bless America.

[@EcklandEaring]

As an investing enthusiast, I often wonder how top-level investors are able to become millionaires off investing.. I've been sitting on over $545K equity from a home sale, and I'm I'm not sure where to go from here. Is it a good time to buy into stocks, or do I wait for another opportunity?

[@BellamyLeander]

I began investing in stocks earlier this year, and it is the best choice l've ever made. My portfolio is rounding up to almost a million and I have realized that when a stock makes it to the news, chances are you're quite late to the party, the idea is to get in early on blue chips before it becomes public. There are lots of life changing opportunities in the market, and maximize it.

[@NylundFaerber]

Yes, and that's true. The current global economy doesn't help. Keep it in mind that people are really making it big in cryptocurrency and Forex trading.

[@Morgand333-u2e]

What opportunities are there in the market, and how do l profit from it?

[@BellamyLeander]

You can make a lot of money from the market regardless of whether it strengthens or crashes. The key is to be well positioned.

[@frefai]

I stayed the Grand Moon resort in Cancun and saw this first hand. The beaches at the resort were basically empty because of the sargassum; the water was a gross brown and it really did stink. I spoke to a fellow guest that moved rooms away from the near beach because the smell was getting to them.

[@CitiesForTheFuture2030]

Seaweed is used in a vast array of industries from edible foods (eg nori) & food additives (eg MSG, agar agar, cerageenan etc) to cosmetics to industrial products to medicine to agriculture (excellent fertilizer) etc. The global seaweed market is worth billions anually.

[@Ohits_OT]

I wanna say, I watched something where a team was starting to make to go wear out of it as well!

[@naydeepolanco1603]

This seaweed problem has been affecting Punta Cana Big Time. Now I know where it comes from.

[@AndreaDoesYoga]

Amazing effort, Cancún Resort! 👏 Keep our beaches clean.

[@___beyondhorizon4664]

The dead Sea resorts are faced with bigger challenges, the sea is shrinking, shink holes everywhere. We had to take a mini van from lobby to the beach because the beaches are so far away. My experience was on the Jordan side the dead Sea in Oct 2021

[@elcampestrevoraz]

Our??? Lol

[@eastafrica1020]

Can't it be turned into natural compost?

[@eflefl1804]

It is only a problem for the Resorts...so what is the problem? Indeed The Resorts are the responsible because they remove the manglar that protect the beaches

[@2GringosOnTheGulf]

Crazy 😢 sad but glad they have stepped up to save the beach, well done guys. ❤ thanks for sharing this. 😢 We will move and explore this area next year. Cheers from 2 Canadians 🇨🇦 living in Veracruz Mexico.🇲🇽❤️✌🏼

[@slytherben]

We used to vacation in the Caribbean, or Cancun, every year. We haven't been back since 2017. The reef is all dead. The beautiful fish are all gone. The sargassum prevents sunlight from reaching the coral. Swimming in dead coral in 2017 was one of the saddest experiences of my life. The world has changed

[@jimysk8er]

the amount of effort made to keep tourists happy should be used to fix the issues as a preventative measure. preferably funded by tourists but also by those who cause the problems.

[@johnl.7754]

Wonder if this type of seaweed is edible and if it is would it be feasible to export it to companies that process it into food items.

[@leandrokataoka2435]

Got myself thinking something similar here. Maybe we could use it as carbon source for composting organic fertilizer. However I don't see a way to reuse the included sand do the hotel solution would look better from that perspective

[@BOOKKAT74]

Not edible. It also has been found to contain heavy metals and emits a lung irritant.

[@skyworks1621]

Good work to help restore the beach

[@denisesspapetite9507]

Holy moly I applaud 👏 these people.

[@jackieminyard9652]

This is great. I know it's an outrageous amount of work but the sarcasm definitely ruins beach vacations. Happy to see some solutions coming up. Looking forward to upcoming trip 2 Cancun. I ❤️ it there!

[@teddymartinii1979]

The Texas Gulf coast gets that same seaweed on the beaches. Front end loaders can clean the beaches in the morning, only to have the beaches covered in the seaweed by the end of the day.

[@dancingpixie6120]

Wow. I never imagined anything like this

[@hans7686]

Lol the wsj narrator blaming the sand and saltwater for the constant maintenance then immediately turning to the guy who actually uses the equipment and he blames the humidity!

[@matt45540]

It's definitely the sand and salt. Humidity doesn't help..... But have you heard of the rust belt

[@FadyDizzle]

Which hotel is being featured?

[@LukeKroeker]

Palace Resorts (Grand, Nizuc, & Moon Palace) They apparently do a lot of conservation efforts at the property.

[@rebeccaclinemeservy]

I thought it is best to leave the sargasum because it keeps the beach from eroding.

[@chriswood7165]

I live in Player del Carmen and this can be a big problem from week to week. I feel so sorry for holiday maker's that come here and cant go in the sea as the water is brown and smelly.

[@nozrep]

sargassum is not invasive. it’s been carried to and deposited on beaches in the Gulf for thousands of years by the currents. It’s literally not invasive.

[@garybaris139]

Isn't there something they can use it for? Some forms of seaweed is highly valuable. It would make ultimate sense if the removal was financially rewarding. So far Sargassum can be turned into fertiliser, biomass, biomaterials (cardboard, paper, bioplastics, etc.) and even fodder for chickens or sheep. I find it strange that so far it is just being dumped.

[@TimpanistMoth_AyKayEll]

Not strange at all. The majority of what we throw away can be used in some way, it's just not sufficiently profitable to do so as long as there are other even cheaper ways to obtain the same products. Of course those even cheaper ways tend to come with significant humanitarian and/or environmental costs, but capitalism doesn't care about those - unless forced to by regulations.

[@TeknoMediumsParanormal1111]

Fooling with Mother Nature usually doesn't work out. The Sargasso Sea section (the doldrums) in the South Atlantic has caused sailors trouble forever. I never plan to go to Mexico, so no worries for me. I'm from Mass. South Shore, we're accustomed to tons of seaweed.

[@AMPProf]

Clothes? Food? I'm game Lets go

[@Braun30]

Algae and seagrass are a major component to beach build up. Remove this contribution of biomass and you end up wir beach washout. That's what they discovered on the beaches of the Adriatic when they wanted to keep beaches nice and white for tourism.

[@anonymouse7074]

The barrier makes a massive difference. The resorts down the beach, which don't have one, suffer in bad reviews.

[@Funguyforvids]

I recently stayed at krystal grand and the beach was covered for 2 days then it was cleaned up...

[@AKhan.28]

Is this Moon Palace? I stayed there last year

[@alvidrez7956]

Just back in 2007 Mexico had the clearest most bluish waters around .. the reef is at danger with all this seaweed . Our waters are so polluted and Mother Nature is just trying to clean its waters .

[@michael_obi]

Can it not be recycled and turned into a positive resource / ingredient?

[@Mystic_214]

When I was in Mexico that was my biggest complaint was the extreme amounts of seaweed on the beach and in the water

[@donaldharlan3981]

Illegal real estate development is the cause of the seaweed invasion. 🏗️ The tourism industry is far out of control in the ports and in the airports. 🤑 That is the problem with illegal immigration in the United States. ⛱️ Partly blame the tourism industry. 🛳️

[@nozrep]

it’s totally fine if they control but folks, sargassum is NOT invasive. It is one hundred percent native to the Gulf of Mexico, washing up on beaches for thousands if not millions of years

[@Sushi2735]

I have never heard of this. In France they harvest the seaweed to make fertilizer. Must be a different kind!

[@turnerflorence9658]

I remember being at moon palace in 2017 with some family friends. We noticed no one was in the water and jumped in anyway and it felt like millions of ants started covering our bodies. If you want a really nice beach just go up the coast.

[@akjackson009]

It’s nice they do this but you really have to get north of Dolphin Beach Point in the Hotel Zone to get to the pretty blue water. Looks like Galveston otherwise sargassum or not.

[@PhillCurtis]

Invasive 😂 I imagine the seaweed was there longer than the Americans on holiday there

[@carloszenteno]

Nope

[@finally_dorian]

Feed it to cows? Reduce the methane emissions?

[@finally_dorian]

Never mind, didn't realize it accumulates arsenic and pesticides 🤦🏾

[@AaaaAa-yf6ku]

when i went to mexico is beautiful but the seaweed ruined the experience beautiful beach but just wasnt worth it with the seaweed this was in 2014 so im not sure if they had these at the time

[@TruthTeller8888]

Now its worst

[@Stavrosmct]

Had my holiday ruined by this. The hotel we stayed at moved it all from their 'premium' beach section and dumped it outside our holiday block. Stinks.

[@rafaelosorio2251]

I went to Cancún in 2015 and my experience was not the best because the beach was flooded with those seaweed, it looked awful, awful.

[@jondaley2588]

South florida deals with it every year especially on the east coast ...I live in boca raton trust me it sucks.... it smells and some days you can't even get in the water ..

[@tkb5119]

I was just in Barbados and this was a problem there as well

[@JCL1023]

Last time I went they gave up the fight. The beach was nothing but Seaweed

[@kbfandmore]

Just came home this morning, they have been working on it but it looked horrible all last week

[@rogeliosalgado]

Why don't you make an investigation on how Calica was devastasting the Yucatan Peninsula?

[@TehTechExpert]

These make excellent fertilizer as they contain a lot of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. You grind it up and put it into soil it is insane super food for crops.

[@ASPINWITHFIN]

I’ve stayed here. It’s miserable. There is still seaweed. Not to mention the constant workers trying to clean it all day

[@AganKunic-mi4pi]

Why wasn’t his an issue years ago? Because the Caribbean sea has warmed quite a bit in the past decade and will even more in the future

[@MyronNoah-l7l]

What’s the name of the resort?

[@merof227]

Moon Palace

[@stevenarseneault1972]

Be a good time to drop chain netting to prevent sharks from accessing the beach.

[@AntilleanConfederation]

Sea weed is a good source of oxygen.

[@trentgay3437]

Seems like you could start a soil company with the composting seaweed add some manure and sell

[@Releb908]

This news story fails to mention the cause of this phenomenon from climate change and increased agricultural production in Brazil. This resort catering to rich overseas tourism is spending huge amounts of money and burning a ton of fuel due to unsustainable practices.

[@purplecouch4767]

Can it be turned into fertilizer, compost, shoes, hats, leather, feed, salad, food, fuel, bio oil, makeup, medicine, art, construction material, bricks, paper, packaging, mulch, aquarium plant, or something?

[@bigsur21]

Good idea

[@OscarHendzCano]

I'm here right now and it's out of control. It's the second time in three years that I've come and I can't swim at the beach and I honestly don't think I'll come back.

[@beetheking_7]

That’s good. Let nature take its course.

[@TheFifty50band]

Moon Palace does a great job at keeping their beaches clean. It's a costly endeavor

[@dreamsted]

Come to Cane Bay - St Croix USVI - no issue here and US soil and pristine beach

[@johnbrittingham4471]

That sargasso sea weed is rich in nutrients for plants.

[@adamsewlal5248]

Seaweed:🪸 Resort 👊🏻👊🏻

[@arunsubramanian7949]

Excellent fertilizer or animal feed

[@carloszenteno]

It's toxic

[@arunsubramanian7949]

@@carloszenteno toxic to animals maybe- but will be a good fertilizer

[@fuerte-af]

Amazing

[@projectcontractors]

Sacrifice Zones, the new term for the ever widening gap between the 'haves' and the 'have-nots'.

[@patallen5095]

I would book that resort just so as not to deal with the sargassum.

[@cmsia]

Not so good narrating voice if you still need subtitles to understand the voiceover

[@christianhardwick6530]

Sargasm. Sounds like the ocean is reaching its climax

[@danielrogers4072]

I believe the Mexican government is also funding much of this seasonal effort.

[@backyardgrillmaster2910]

I'm only 45 seconds into it I want to know what they do with the seaweed are they mixing it with brown and just make it into compost😮 seaweed is a green all you need is some brown keep turning it you got the machine you got the people start making compost

[@calk515]

Well the weeds says that each year they are fighting invasive hotels…

[@martylynchian8628]

Do this Mexican border wall is able to keep out the sorganisms?

[@MichaelMacris]

every beach resort has this problem just not as bad

[@ChildofGod632]

Here comes a hurricane 🌀 this place is in trouble, We can check back in One week ❤❤

[@danieldanieldadada]

Surely they can monetize with all that seaweed.

[@inggomez-allen7920]

There’s a Mexican man who discovered how to make durable bricks out of those invasive stinky seaweed

[@DanielSilva-jj2lz]

It's all wrong. The ideal would be to create a crescent-shaped polder covering the entire front of the beach and fill this polder with sargassum.

[@zacharyferreira2469]

Sargassum is what allows sandy beaches to form. 50 years of obsessive removal of sargassum from the shore is why the Mexican Riviera’s beaches are washing away and will be gone in 30 years. I just returned from one of my favorite beaches that I have been visiting for 25 years and took photos next to a palm tree that is now at the high tide shoreline. I have photos of the same tree 15 years ago well above the shoreline.

[@ELVISBLAZQUEZ-z8l]

Labor de titanes! Gracias por preocuparse por el medio ambiente, qué a todos nos corresponde pero desgraciadamente la mayoría no lo comprende

[@elnoey]

Is not the resort itself, it's money from the government and they cover all of the weed in all Yucatan.

[@jaad9848]

Peak american tourism . Spend all that money to prevent tourist from experiencing nature in their resort selling "nature"

[@jamessandlin-hx9jp]

The worst ecological disaster is what i believe to be called calerpi in the medertreanean sea

[@ricarnilonavaja9129]

It can be used as sea weed base organic fertilizer