140 Tons of Sargassum Cleared from Isla Mujeres Beaches

Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo — A massive cleanup operation removed 140 tons of sargassum from Isla Mujeres’ shores early Monday morning after the seaweed washed ashore overnight. The sudden influx marked nearly 10% of the 1,334 tons that have reached the island’s coast between April and early July.

Rapid Response to Unprecedented Arrival

The cleanup began at 5 a.m. and lasted over four hours, involving 130 workers from the Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone (Zofemat), alongside municipal staff, tourism service providers, Civil Protection personnel, firefighters, Mexican Navy members, and even taxi drivers. Dayana Pérez, director of Zofemat, confirmed the collaborative effort successfully cleared the affected area, known as El Riíto in Playa Norte.

Esteban Amaro, director of the Sargassum Monitoring Center, noted the swift cleanup demonstrated what could be achieved with political will. He warned that Quintana Roo faces its most critical sargassum season yet, with red alerts issued for coastal stretches from Tulum to Playa del Carmen, including Cozumel’s eastern shore.

Amaro explained that sargassum arrives in waves, with the current influx stretching from Punta Allen to Bahía Príncipe in Tulum. The worst-affected areas are Xcalak and Mahahual, where the seaweed enters Mexican Caribbean waters via Banco Chinchorro. He observed that intense sargassum cycles typically last three to four years, with 2025 surpassing previous records set in 2015, 2018, and 2022.

Tourism Industry Seeks Federal Relief

Meanwhile, Tulum’s tourism sector, experiencing its lowest activity in a decade, is pushing for federal intervention. Councilman and business owner Jorge Portilla announced plans to request a temporary waiver of entry fees to the Jaguar National Park, where public beaches and the archaeological site are located.

Portilla revealed hotel occupancy in Tulum’s tourist zone has plummeted to 40%, while downtown lodgings average just one or two occupied rooms. The crisis has forced some restaurants and hotels to temporarily close, creating a ripple effect across tourism-dependent businesses.

Foreign visitors currently pay 415 pesos ($25) to access Tulum’s beaches, while Mexican nationals pay over 200 pesos ($12). Only local residents enjoy free entry. Additional fees of 90 to 120 pesos ($5–7) apply for archaeological site visits.

In Playa del Carmen, Manuel García, regional director of the National Chamber of the Restaurant and Seasoned Food Industry, described the summer vacation season as "extremely complicated." High commercial rents and sargassum have compounded the downturn, forcing some establishments to shutter until tourist numbers rebound.

The situation underscores the growing economic strain on Quintana Roo’s tourism industry as it grapples with dual challenges of sargassum and declining visitor numbers.