Experts Tackle Sargassum Barrier Use in Mexico

TULUM, Mexico — With the participation of specialists, business owners, suppliers, and authorities, the First International Forum on Anti-Sargassum Barriers was held in Akumal, a space that sought to rethink the role of this technology within the strategies for managing the seaweed on the coasts of Quintana Roo.

The meeting brought together six of the leading international suppliers and experts on the subject, convened by the civil association Ecoprotección Akumal and the company Océanos International, with the accompaniment of the State Committee for the Attention of Sargassum.

Iván Pennie, a specialist in integrated coastal management, explained that the central objective was to share technical experiences on the adequate use of barriers and underscored that their application must be adapted to each coastal context.

"Barriers have been used for decades to contain hydrocarbons, but their use against sargassum is relatively recent. Errors in their implementation generated distrust, although it is now known how to use them," he stated.

Pennie indicated that the forum was not for commercial purposes, but for technical analysis: "They are willing to debate broadly with institutions and individuals who are interested. The focus must be on identifying what type of barrier works for each coastal sector."

During the presentations, fragments of structures and practical cases of operation, installation, and use were shown. It was highlighted that their success depends on factors such as the composition of the coast, its slope, the bathymetry, and the interaction with the sargassum flow.

"It is not about containing such a large mass, but about diverting it to a site where it is more convenient to collect it. That is the most intelligent thing that can be done with the barriers," affirmed Pennie.

The specialist also highlighted community experiences, such as in Media Luna bay, where more than 100 property owners coordinate to protect the area, which reflects the importance of social collaboration in this type of solution.

According to the speakers, the participating companies already operate in nearly 19 countries in Central America and the Caribbean; however, Mexico faces the greatest impact in the entire region, with more than 800 kilometers of coastline exposed to the arrival of the macroalgae.

"We are in the position most perpendicular to the main sargassum flow, which makes us the most impacted country, although we are also the ones with the most knowledge and development on this subject," indicated Pennie.

Finally, it was announced that the information generated at the forum will be widely disseminated, with the purpose of reaching communities, institutions, and sectors interested in applying sustainable solutions to a phenomenon that each year represents an environmental and economic challenge for Quintana Roo.