The floating algae has accumulated in vast belts across the Atlantic before drifting toward the Caribbean, Mexico and the southern United States. In July, researchers recorded approximately 27 million metric tons of sargassum across the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Caribbean levels reached records in June, while the Gulf contained about 5 million metric tons—nearly twice the previous record for that month. The country has collected more than 96,000 metric tons of sargassum so far this year, already exceeding the amount gathered during the same period last year. Until effective large-scale solutions are developed, Caribbean beaches may continue to depend on daily cleanup efforts to preserve their shorelines and protect tourism.