Mayor Joins State Plan to Fight Sargassum in Cancún

Cancún, Quintana Roo — In response to the increasing influx of sargassum on Quintana Roo’s coastlines, Mayor Ana Paty Peralta participated in the establishment of the 2025 Strategy Committee for Massive Sargassum Arrival, led by Governor Mara Lezama. The initiative aims to coordinate efforts and mitigate the environmental impact of the seaweed phenomenon.

Municipal Efforts to Maintain Beaches

Mayor Peralta reported that Cancún conducts daily beach cleanups and offshore sargassum collection to ensure optimal conditions for visitors. “We currently have a workforce of 340 employees, but in the event of a massive influx, we will deploy an additional 150 workers at Playa Delfines and 10 each at Playa Marlín, Playa Chac Mool, and Playa Ballenas,” she stated during the hybrid in-person and virtual meeting with officials from all levels of government.

The municipality has allocated significant resources to address the issue, including seven sweepers, seven tractors, three backhoes, eight dump trucks with 14-cubic-meter capacity, as well as rakes, shovels, and wheelbarrows.

Monitoring and Disposal Strategies

To combat the seaweed effectively, the city issues four daily reports at 6:30 AM, 8:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 6:00 PM, tracking conditions across public beaches. This system has facilitated coordination between the General Directorate of Public Services, the Directorate of Ecology, the Secretariat of Ecology and Environment (SEMA), the Federal Maritime-Terrestrial Zone (Zofemat), and the Mexican Navy.

From January to date, authorities have collected 2,142 tons of sargassum. Mayor Peralta also emphasized ongoing efforts to improve disposal methods. While the seaweed is currently deposited in the old landfill, plans are underway to activate a new cell at the Integral Waste Processing Center (Cipres) for more sustainable management.

Statewide Protocol and Future Measures

Governor Mara Lezama highlighted the state’s commitment to protecting beaches and coastlines through the development and implementation of a State Action Protocol. This framework includes:

• Early monitoring and alerts
• Preemptive activation of local resources
• Interinstitutional coordination to align government efforts
• Efficient on-ground collection with environmental safeguards
• Transportation, repurposing, and final disposal strategies
• Transparent communication and accountability

In anticipation of heavier sargassum arrivals in the coming months, the state will deploy mass cleanup brigades twice weekly. Additionally, barriers will be installed at Playa del Niño and Las Perlas, where wave activity is less intense.