Seaweed-Like Algae Threatens Mexico's Riveria Maya Tourism Industry As It Washes Up Upon Once Pristine Beaches

Waters near a Tulum resort are brown from sargassum, a seaweed-like algae, on June 15, 2019 in Tulum, Mexico. Mexico's Riviera Maya Caribbean tourist towns of Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum are being inundated with tons of foul-smelling seaweed-like algae called sargassum that has turned the pristine blue waters brown and littered the white sands beaches. The government of Mexico is concerned that if the problem persists tourism could suffer. Scientists from South Florida University's College of Marine Science say that sargassum mats could be brought on by global climate change since increased nutrient flows and ocean water upwelling brings nutrients up from the bottom. (Footage by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)