Know Before You Go

Caribbean Island Sargassum Report April, 2026

Large amounts of sargassum seaweed have been washing ashore across the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and tropical Atlantic regularly since 2011, causing harm to local economies, coastal ecosystems and public health.

To track the problem, scientists produce weekly Sargassum Inundation Risk (SIR) maps covering the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Each map classifies the risk of seaweed reaching the coast as low, medium or high, based on how much sargassum is detected within 50km of the shoreline compared to recent historical levels.

Caribbean travel advisory — April 2026

Caribbean Island Sargassum Risk Report

⚠ 2026 is tracking as a record seaweed year. A large open-ocean sargassum mass is currently approaching the eastern Caribbean from the Atlantic, with the peak season still ahead.
High risk
Medium risk
Low risk
Mixed / varies by coast

Lesser Antilles
Northern islands
US Virgin Islands / British Virgin Islands
Surrounded by dense seaweed on all sides; windward shore beaches most affected

High risk

Anguilla
All coastal stretches at high risk; one of the most affected islands in the region right now

High risk

St Martin / Sint Maarten
Large seaweed mass sitting immediately to the north and east; most beaches affected

High risk

Saba / St Eustatius
Small islands fully exposed; no sheltered leeward relief from current conditions

High risk

St Kitts and Nevis
Both islands at high risk; Atlantic-facing beaches worst affected

High risk

Antigua and Barbuda
Eastern Atlantic-facing coast maximally exposed; some western beaches marginally better

High risk

Montserrat
Slightly lower intensity than larger neighbours; conditions mixed across different beaches

Medium risk

Central islands
Guadeloupe
Consistent arrivals on Atlantic-facing coasts; authorities issue dedicated weekly beach advisories

High risk

Dominica
Fully windward island with no sheltered coast; conditions high across all beaches

High risk

Martinique
East coast most severely affected; west coast (Caribbean side) offers somewhat more shelter

High risk

St Lucia
West coast (Rodney Bay, Marigot) more sheltered; exposed Atlantic east coast at higher risk

Medium risk

Southern islands
Barbados
A large seaweed mass is currently positioned directly to the east. The windward east coast is severely affected; the sheltered west coast (Platinum Coast) remains significantly clearer

High risk

St Vincent
Conditions mixed; east-facing coasts more exposed than leeward Caribbean shores

Medium risk

Grenada
Southerly position provides some relief; Grand Anse and south coast beaches generally better

Medium risk

Tobago
More exposed than Trinidad due to northeast trade wind direction

Medium risk

Trinidad
Sheltered by proximity to the South American coast; least affected in the southern Lesser Antilles

Low risk

Greater Antilles
Cuba
Cuba — eastern tip
Most exposed coast, positioned closest to the main Atlantic seaweed mass

High risk

Cuba — north coast
Conditions vary by stretch; some sections clear, others with moderate accumulations

Mixed

Cuba — south coast
Caribbean-facing southern coast more sheltered; generally better beach conditions

Medium risk

Hispaniola
Dominican Republic — Punta Cana and east coast
One of the most severely affected coastlines in the Caribbean right now; east-facing beaches face directly into the seaweed drift

High risk

Dominican Republic — north coast
Atlantic-facing northern shores including Puerto Plata at high risk

High risk

Haiti
Northern and southern coastlines both at elevated risk; limited beach management infrastructure

High risk

Dominican Republic — south coast
Caribbean-facing south coast more sheltered; conditions mixed but generally better

Medium risk

Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico — north and east coast
Atlantic-facing north coast at high risk; San Juan area beaches most exposed

High risk

Puerto Rico — west coast
Leeward western coast (Rincón, Mayagüez) significantly more sheltered; generally clearer

Low risk

Jamaica
Jamaica
Less affected than neighbouring Hispaniola and Puerto Rico. North coast resort areas benefit from some protection; conditions variable but generally manageable

Medium risk

Conditions change week to week — check with your hotel for the latest beach conditions before you travel.

Spotted Sargassum? Help Scientists Track It

If you’ve seen sargassum recently at the beach, from a boat or along a boardwalk, you can contribute to ongoing research by submitting a photo and location through the Sargassum Reporting Form. Sightings submitted are shared with the Florida International University Atlantic/Caribbean Sargassum Epicollect database, which helps improve monitoring accuracy across the region.

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