Europe Leads the Way in Sargassum Seaweed Utilization Plans in Quintana Roo

Approximately ten European companies, primarily from Spain and the Netherlands, are planning to establish operations in Quintana Roo, Mexico. Their focus is on the exploitation of sargassum seaweed, a resource that washes up on the region's shores annually.

Tony Chaves, President of the Riviera Maya Hotel Association, revealed that discussions have been ongoing throughout the week with these companies. The objective is to understand the challenges, expectations, and previous experiences related to the seaweed. The ultimate goal is to foster various projects, funded privately and through grants from the European Union (EU).

Chaves said, "We organized this forum with the Netherlands Embassy and these companies, who are keen to collaborate on seaweed collection and industrialization projects." He added that the meetings also included representatives from the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat).

Following these discussions, several foreign firms have committed to initiating pilot projects funded by various EU grants. These projects will need to align with the existing mitigation programs of Mexico to ensure the productive use of the sargassum seaweed.

The Riviera Maya Hotel Association is also championing this cause. In partnership with a banking institution, they're promoting a challenge to encourage and implement new ideas for seaweed mitigation.

Other countries, including France, the United Kingdom, and Finland, have also shown interest in participating in these productive projects. However, the Netherlands and Spain have been the most active, largely due to their private investments in the region.

Projections suggest a 30% increase in sargassum seaweed along the Quintana Roo coasts by 2025. In response, municipal, state, and naval authorities have ramped up their prevention efforts.