Every summer, the Dominican Republic braces for another onslaught of sargassum, a floating mat of brown algae from the Atlantic sargassum belt.
In 2025, this natural phenomenon has reached unprecedented levels, with satellite data revealing a record 38 million tonnes of sargassum was recorded across the Atlantic and Caribbean in May. This is nearly double the previous high recorded in 2022.
This seaweed plays an important ecological role offshore, but once it reaches the coast, it disrupts tourism, endangers marine ecosystems, and endangers public health with the accompanying odors and toxic gases such as hydrogen sulfide and ammonia.
Related: Mexican Sargassum Daily Updates 2024: Cancun, Tulum, PDC and more
What is happening so far in 2025?
Forecasting tools such as Sargassum Monitoring and CARICOOS indicate that by October, overall sargassum biomass is expected to decrease compared to the peak summer period.
2025 was a strong year for Sargassum. In May, scientists recorded a record 38 million tons of sargassum across the Caribbean, Atlantic and Gulf regions.
The Dominican Republic is already facing major challenges this year. Cleanup efforts need to be stepped up in Punta Cana, Bavaro and other coastal areas.
Governments and resorts are applying multiple strategies, including daily beach cleaners, machinery to rake and transport sargassum, offshore floating barriers (booms), and better predictive systems.
Join FB Group: Dominican Republic Seaweed Report
Sargassum Seaweed Season 2025: Latest Satellite Images and Photo Report from the Dominican Republic
October 2025: Latest photos and satellite images from Punta Cana and other areas
Latest photos from Sargassum Seaweed Report FB group:
The latest satellite imagery suggests that sargassum is slowing down and coming to a halt towards the end of fall and winter.
July 2025: Latest Image Report from FB Report Group: Dominican Republic Sargassum Seaweed Report (Punta Cana, Cabarete, etc.)
Satellite images from the University of Florida show that large amounts of sargassum seaweed are still floating toward the Caribbean Sea, likely leading to a longer season this year.
Sargassum Seaweed Dominican Republic June 2024 Outlook
Unlike other parts of the Caribbean and Mexico, the situation for sargassum seaweed in the Dominican Republic was not too bad during the first two weeks of June. Punta Cana’s morning cleaning seems to be very effective, keeping the beaches in very good condition for most of the day.
Latest map of Sargassum, Dominican Republic
Published by the Optical Oceanography Laboratory, College of Marine Sciences, University of Florida.
Seaweed updates from the Dominican Republic (Punta Cana)
Hoteliers and local governments are tackling the problem, cleaning beaches every morning and installing sea walls to catch algae before it washes up on shore, giving vacationers an unforgettable beach experience.
Take a look at this timeline to get a complete picture of the current status of the most popular beaches and how it will evolve. This report is based on data from the Algues honda Punta Cana and Sargassum Seaweed Updates Dominican Republic FB groups.
June 1st to June 18th: Latest news and photos
Popular Dominican Republic beaches battle sargassum invasion and trash problem – Boca Chica, a popular spot for locals and tourists alike, reports an ongoing battle with seaweed and trash problems. Local authorities say they are redoubling efforts to clean up and warn local residents, as the impact could be significant on the local economy. Unfortunately, the opposite is true and this small seaside town still has many dump sites in its suburbs, schools, downtown and on the beach.
Latest photos from Punta Cana and other areas of the DR
As you can see in the photo, conditions are very unstable, but the beaches are generally in great condition, even though sargassum seaweed is at its peak at this time of year.
May 10th to May 30th
Most of the Dominican Republic’s popular hotspots are experiencing a proliferation of Sargassum seaweed, but morning cleanups are extremely efficient. It’s a great time to be in the Dominican Republic right now. Sargasso arrivals are expected to surge in the coming weeks.
Beautiful morning photo from Dreams Onyx Resort in Punta Cana
May 1-9: Sargassum seaweed is rapidly increasing in Punta Cana
A photo uploaded by Rick Lam on May 9th shocked the “Algae Sargas Punta Cana” FB community. It marks the arrival of the largest seaweed season of 2024 in the Dominican Republic. According to Rick’s next video post, after four hours of tractor cleaning, the sargassum was completely gone from the beach.
A video of a tractor cleaning seaweed from Sargassum in the morning went viral.
Is Sargassum seaweed harmful to humans?
Sargassum is harmless in most cases, but it can cause irritation and rashes for people with sensitive skin.
What causes Sargassum seaweed in the Dominican Republic?
The exact cause of annual seaweed invasions in the Dominican Republic and other Caribbean countries has not yet been scientifically proven. Various studies suggest that sargassum growth is related to global warming, chemicals used in agriculture, and anthropogenic pollution of the oceans.
