During certain times of the year, vast blooms of Sargassum seaweed inundate the Caribbean coastline. Human activities such as agriculture, deforestation, and fossil fuel production introduce excess nutrients into rivers, which flow into the Atlantic, fueling the rapid spread of Sargassum.

When these blooms expand across the ocean's surface, they deplete oxygen, create dead zones for marine life, and block sunlight from reaching coral reefs and seagrass beds. Removing Sargassum is challenging, especially by manual methods, and its presence disrupts tourism, boating, fishing, and the coastal economies that depend on these industries.

As it decomposes, Sargassum emits a strong odor due to hydrogen sulfide release and contains arsenic and heavy metals, posing additional hazards.

This photo story documents the Sargassum bloom in Curaçao, capturing its impact on local marine ecosystems, tourism, and coastal communities.