Mexican Navy Has Collected More Than 72,800 Tons of Sargassum in Quintana Roo This Year

Quintana Roo — The Mexican Navy says it is continuing to tackle sargassum at sea and on the beaches of seven Quintana Roo municipalities, working alongside officials from all three levels of government and the hotel sector.

In a statement, the Navy said that as of Nov. 6 its crews had collected 72,815.2 tons of sargassum in 2026, and that brigades remain on standby to respond to new waves of the seaweed washing ashore.

In 2025, Navy personnel collected 18,500 tons of sargassum, equal to about 20 percent of the 92,782 tons that reached the state that year.

The cleanup work keeps beaches clean in Centro, Chen Río, Delfines, Golondrinas, Mahahual, Mamitas, Maya, Petempich, Petrel, Pueblo and Xcalacoco, located in the municipalities of Isla Mujeres, Benito Juárez, Puerto Morelos, Solidaridad, Cozumel, Tulum and Othón P. Blanco.

“These efforts help preserve recreational spaces for residents and support the work of those who make their living from tourism along the coast,” the Navy said, adding that operations ramp up as the high season approaches.

The Navy, through the Mexican Navy fleet, sits on the Intersecretarial Commission for the Sustainable Management of Seas and Coasts (Cimares) alongside other federal agencies.