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The U.S. government is closed. This site will not be updated; however, NOAA websites and social media channels necessary to protect lives and property will be maintained. To learn more, visit commerce.gov. 

For the latest forecasts and critical weather information, visit weather.gov.

New Study Calculates Sargassum’s Multi-Million Dollar Hit to US Coastal Economies

A recently published article quantifies the economic damage caused by recurring sargassum seaweed events across the coasts of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), and coastal Florida. NCCOS’ Competitive Research Program–funded research is timely: although the ecological and public health impacts of sargassum inundation events (SIEs) are well documented, the direct financial toll on state and local governments, and the private sector has not been thoroughly quantified for these key U.S. territories and states.

A tropical coastal bay heavily covered in brown sargassum, with a sailboat surrounded by the seaweed near the center. Green hills, palm trees, and houses line the shore under a bright sky.
Large sargassum mat along the shore of the Margarita Vacation Club in St. Thomas demonstrates the difficulty of cleanup efforts. Credit: The USVI Hotel & Tourism Association.

The study, conducted by a team of social scientists and economists from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the University of Rhode Island, aimed to provide resource managers with clear, evidence-based economic data to help guide funding decisions and policy responses to SIEs. The research examined both the direct and indirect costs of these events, especially their impacts on coastal tourism, recreation, and fisheries — three key economic sectors for the affected jurisdictions.

To capture the economic impacts, the study used several methods for these regions, including compiling national income data for marine and coastal industries, estimating the frequencies of SIEs, analyzing tourism revenue losses such as hotel cancellations and reduced visitor spending, and assessing declines in commercial and recreational fishing catches.

By collecting and analyzing the economic data, the authors were able to develop a comprehensive picture of the significant monetary impacts SIEs are placing on these popular U.S. coastal regions. This research provides key information to policymakers, illustrating the economic burden necessary to address the escalating costs associated with these severe, recurring environmental events.

NOAA is authorized to advance the scientific understanding and assess harmful algal bloom events through the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act (33 U.S.C. §§ 4001 et seq.).

Citation: Jin, D., Wang, A., & Dalton, T. (2025). Economic impacts of sargassum events in Puerto Rico, USVI, and coastal Florida. Harmful Algae, 150, 102996. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2025.102996

 

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