Fonatur Prepares Two-Stage, $108 Million Sargassum Plan for 2027

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Fonatur, Mexico’s national tourism development fund, is preparing a two-stage plan to fight sargassum in 2027 with an investment of 2 billion pesos, about $108 million, its director general said after meeting with the Mexican Navy and the Quintana Roo state government.

Sebastián Ramírez Mendoza said the first stage carries 768.7 million pesos, roughly $41 million, to buy two tugboats and six coastal sargassum-collecting vessels and to expand containment infrastructure. The goal is a maritime collection capacity of 1,870 tons per day.

The second stage would raise that capacity to 4,000 tons per day, although officials said hitting the target depends on how the investments are carried out and when the new equipment enters service.

Beach Cleanup Teams and Industrial Reuse

Ramírez Mendoza said preparations have already begun to set up municipal working groups for beach cleanup, identify the areas that need priority attention, and coordinate the transfer and final disposal of the seaweed. The fund will also keep promoting industrial uses of sargassum through circular-economy projects.

The planning comes as the Mexican Caribbean heads into the fall-winter season in relatively good shape. At the start of November, 85 beaches were at low or sargassum-free levels, offering good conditions along much of the northern and southern coastline for arriving visitors.

Technical monitoring at the time found five beaches in optimal condition with no sargassum buildup, while 80% of beaches showed minimal concentrations classified as green on the monitoring scale, allowing recreational activity across tourist destinations.