The idyllic Mexican Caribbean, once considered a "paradise," faces a threat from massive landings of brownish Sargassum algae since 2015. Despite being an environmental hazard, these algae are mainly treated as a tourist issue. Through ethnographic research (2019–2022), it becomes clear that adaptation efforts focus on catering to tourists rather than addressing climate change. The quest to maintain the tourist paradise paradoxically leads to long-term destabilization, raising concerns about the sustainability of local communities. Learn more about these dynamics in my recent publication with Cultural Analysis, available here: https://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~culturalanalysis/volume21_2/vol21_2_BeachParadise.html
