Researchers Seek to Turn Sargassum Into Valuable Fisheries Resource

Quintana Roo, Mexico — The Mexican government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) and the Mexican Institute for Research in Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture (IMIPAS), is spearheading an ambitious oceanographic research expedition to evaluate and utilize pelagic sargassum (Sargassum spp.) in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Mexican Caribbean.

Unprecedented 14-Day Expedition

Aboard the state-of-the-art Dr. Jorge Carranza Fraser Fisheries and Oceanographic Research Vessel, scientists will conduct a 14-day continuous voyage covering over 3,500 kilometers to study pelagic sargassum—a brown algae that floats on the ocean’s surface. This marks the first international research project of its scale.

The expedition, supported by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), departed from Cozumel on May 29. Since 2011, massive influxes of sargassum have plagued the Caribbean Sea, with continuous arrivals to the Mexican Caribbean beginning in 2014. These accumulations have affected approximately 900 kilometers of coastline, reaching volumes of up to two cubic meters per linear meter of beach.

While sargassum provides habitat for marine species in open waters, its excessive buildup on coasts has led to negative impacts on human health, coastal ecosystems, and key economic sectors such as fisheries and tourism.

A New Approach: Sargassum as a Fisheries Resource

IMIPAS proposes an innovative strategy: transforming sargassum into a fisheries resource. To achieve this, researchers must thoroughly understand its environment, biomass, and composition to enable identification and capture at sea before it reaches shore.

Over 60 researchers from institutions including:

• National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)
• Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC)
• University of the Sea (Umar)
• University of Costa Rica
• Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav)
• Interdisciplinary Center for Marine Sciences (CICIMAR)
• Northwest Biological Research Center (Cibnor)
• Interdisciplinary Research Center for Regional Integral Development (CIIDIR)
• Institute of Ecology, Fisheries, and Oceanography (Epomex)
• Technological Institute of Tepic
• College of the Southern Border (Ecosur)
• Researchers for Mexico (Secihti)

will conduct the following studies:

• Sampling sargassum to identify species composition, volume, chemical makeup, and presence of heavy metals and microplastics.
• Analyzing accompanying fauna, including fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and plankton.
• Aerial photography to characterize sargassum rafts.
• Seawater sampling to assess nutrients, heavy metals, and other contaminants.
• Ocean acidification studies to evaluate impacts on Caribbean corals.
• Environmental DNA analysis to identify organisms associated with sargassum.

Collaborative Efforts for Sustainable Solutions

The project involves collaboration with multiple government agencies, including the Ministries of Finance, Navy, Environment and Natural Resources, and Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation, as well as the National Aquaculture and Fisheries Commission (Conapesca).

By leveraging cutting-edge technology and interdisciplinary expertise, IMIPAS aims to generate scientific data that supports the sustainable use of sargassum, reinforcing its commitment to responsible marine resource management. its commitment to responsible marine resource management.