Beach Reclamation

[Babaloo]

Originally Posted by Stormin

. Is there a special reason for it?

Nature.

[Route307]

Originally Posted by Babaloo

Nature.

Someone needs to have a talk with mother nature, she may need some counseling or anger management sessions. She be an angry woman these days.

[terzaghi]

Originally Posted by Stormin

Why so much seaweed this year? It looks a bit better now than when we there in February. North of Playa Maya it was downright disgusting with the amount of seaweed there. I have never seen it this bad before. Is there a special reason for it?

I took his photo around 6:20am, the friendly staff at Playa Maya had the seaweed removed not long after.

Some days this week a good amount of seaweed continued to come in (or just float near the beach) throughout the day. Yesterday there wasn't really any seaweed throughout the day. It hasn't kept us from enjoying the beach or swimming- and once it makes it to the shore it has typically been removed in a reasonable amount of time.

[burly]

so......
any recent pictures of the beach? hmmm?

[Babaloo]

Originally Posted by burly

so......
any recent pictures of the beach? hmmm?

About the same.

[MisterClean]

Originally Posted by Stormin

Why so much seaweed this year? It looks a bit better now than when we there in February. North of Playa Maya it was downright disgusting with the amount of seaweed there. I have never seen it this bad before. Is there a special reason for it?

Oh my!!!!! I have not been to playa for 2years man has the beach been lost at sea again. After the dredging it seemed so big

[Michael]

Originally Posted by MisterClean

Oh my!!!!! I have not been to playa for 2years man has the beach been lost at sea again. After the dredging it seemed so big

The beaches I go to, are just fine. Take a look at some of the webcams.

Originally Posted by Stormin

Why so much seaweed this year? It looks a bit better now than when we there in February. North of Playa Maya it was downright disgusting with the amount of seaweed there. I have never seen it this bad before. Is there a special reason for it?

The seaweed is sargassum from the Sargasso Sea in the north Atlantic. Last summer the sargassum started to work its way out of the north Atlantic into the Eastern Caribbean. This was probably due to some unusual storms and currents, more specifically a suspected southward shift in the Gulf Stream. Some of the islands beaches where very very seriously affected. Eventually the weed worked its way to our side of the Caribbean. I did not really notice it until the start of this year.

Again, the effect on our beaches is not that significant. However, this is very unusual. I have never seen this in 20+ years. It has been reported that there is no historical record of any thing this severe on the eastern Caribbean islands. I have seen sea grass in places. But I've never seen piles of sargassum like this.

The weed is actually good for the beach. As it can provide some reinforcement against erosion. And for those who have not seen our beaches recently. The beaches near hotels are usually cleaned by the staff in the morning. The weed can also bring some tasty snacks for the birds and so that must be good.

There are a lot of articles describing what has happened. Here is one from Belize:
What Is All Over our Beaches?
And no our beaches do not look like that!

[T&L]

I guess there are two types (floating and non floating) and neither appear to be invasive ... Actualy beneficial to the ocean and its creatures. Though they say North Atlantic it realy isnt that far away from the Carribean. As Mike stated one good shift in the gulf stream can move the floating mass.

Like he said this type of seaweed has its benefits ... one being reinforcement...they should mive it into the bottom layers of the sand instead of just discarding it.

Normaly Seaweed and grasses thrive on sun, water, and most of all detritus similiar to your lawn ... giving it another benefit. Detritus is organic waste ... So as long as its floating in and not growing on the rocks it shouldnt labeled as serious ... I guess maybe if your relating to tourism ... but more of a nuisance then anything else.

[hummbaby11]

hows it looking these days in the fusion area and playa maya and luna encantada areas? Was there in early May and it was pretty narrow but still beautiful.

[Dan in Ct]

Better now than Feb. No steep drop off.

[jiffer]

Originally Posted by Dan in Ct

Better now than Feb. No steep drop off.

That is good to hear. I will be staying at the LE in Nov.

[hummbaby11]

Nobody would happen to have any recent photos of the beach in front of Playa Maya/Fusion/Luna Encantada area would they. Just booked for Feb 1st to 11th and would love to get a few recent shots to tide me over if anybody has any photos. Only 5 months away from paradise.

[Babaloo]

Originally Posted by hummbaby11

Nobody would happen to have any recent photos of the beach in front of Playa Maya/Fusion/Luna Encantada area would they. Just booked for Feb 1st to 11th and would love to get a few recent shots to tide me over if anybody has any photos. Only 5 months away from paradise.

About the same as the last ten times you've asked
Five months is a long time off. Things could change.

[hummbaby11]

thank you anyways Babaloo...I will continue to look at the foggy camera set up at Kool Beach Club. ...if only we were as fortunate as you to see it like you do everyday. Unfortunately, I am not able to do that yet...so I have to get my fix in other ways if I can. Have a couple cold ones for me!

[Sue]

Originally Posted by hummbaby11

thank you anyways Babaloo...I will continue to look at the foggy camera set up at Kool Beach Club. ...if only we were as fortunate as you to see it like you do everyday. Unfortunately, I am not able to do that yet...so I have to get my fix in other ways if I can. Have a couple cold ones for me!

I wish we saw it everyday!