Quintana Roo Lacks Funds to Fight Sargassum Crisis

Cancún, Quintana Roo — The Secretary of Ecology and Environment of Quintana Roo, Óscar Rébora Aguilera, acknowledged that the state's budget of 130 million pesos allocated to combat sargassum is insufficient to fully address the issue. In response, the government will coordinate with coastal municipalities to redirect funds from environmental sanitation fees and strengthen the comprehensive strategy against the massive influx of the macroalgae.

Budget Shortfalls and Municipal Collaboration

During a statement, Rébora Aguilera emphasized that while the current allocation reflects the state government's efforts, optimizing available resources through municipal cooperation is necessary. "It’s not ideal, but municipalities also have sanitation funds, and what we seek is to redirect and optimize these resources to reinforce our actions," he explained.

The announcement coincides with the Mexican Institute for Research in Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture (IMIPAS) recognizing sargassum as a fishery resource. Although this designation does not alter existing state policies, Rébora Aguilera noted that it opens new opportunities for industrial use of the algae, potentially attracting investments and fostering sustainable projects in the region.

Plans for a Circular Economy Center

A key component of the strategy is the creation of the Comprehensive Sargassum Sanitation and Circular Economy Center, slated for construction in Cancún. The project, still in the executive planning phase, explores productive applications for sargassum, including carbon credit generation, biogas production, and organic fertilizer manufacturing—options deemed economically viable.

Rébora stated that two potential sites for the center are under review, with an estimated investment of up to 100 million dollars, though the final amount will depend on the ongoing executive plan. "The project goes beyond containment and collection; it aims to close the sargassum cycle through a circular economy model, turning an environmental problem into a productive opportunity," he stressed.

He also highlighted the commitment of the state governor, who has championed structural solutions to the sargassum phenomenon since her tenure as municipal president. The state administration anticipates that this reinforced strategy will yield a more effective response to an environmental issue that impacts marine ecosystems and key sectors like tourism and the local economy.