Sargassum Barriers Installed Early on Costa Maya Beaches

Chetumal. The Navy Secretariat and the Mahahual community have begun installing sargassum barriers along the coast as a preventive measure against the early arrival of sargassum to the Costa Maya. To date, just over 60 percent of the projected 2.2 kilometers of barriers have been placed to protect the main recreational beaches of this tourist destination.

Vice Admiral Marco Antonio Muños Hernández, commander of the XI Naval Zone, reported that this effort is part of a comprehensive strategy to mitigate the effects of massive sargassum influx, a phenomenon that in recent years has significantly impacted the coasts of the Mexican Caribbean, both environmentally and in terms of tourism and the economy.

He detailed that the work is being carried out in a coordinated manner between the Navy Secretariat (Semar), the Government of the State of Quintana Roo, and the organized community of Mahahual, with the objective of protecting the beaches, maintaining them in optimal conditions for visitors, and reducing the impact on marine ecosystems.

“Just over 60 percent of the 2.2 kilometers of sargassum barriers have already been installed, which represents an important advance in containing the algae before it reaches the coastal strip. This is a key preventive action, considering that the influx has arrived early this year,” explained the naval commander.

Muños Hernández added that, in addition to the barriers, at least four specialized vessels will be available to carry out sargassum collection tasks, with the aim of intercepting it before it reaches solid ground. These units will allow for a faster and more efficient response to massive arrivals of the algae.

Likewise, he indicated that the operation contemplates the implementation of permanent surveillance, as well as the deployment of cleaning teams at the main beaches and beach access points, which will allow public spaces to be maintained in adequate conditions for both residents and national and foreign tourists.

The vice admiral emphasized that community participation is a fundamental factor in this strategy, as tourism service providers, restaurateurs, hoteliers, and residents of Mahahual have joined prevention, cleaning, and monitoring efforts, strengthening the joint work between society and authorities.

“We are working in a coordinated manner with the State and with the Mahahual community. The intention is to anticipate the problem, avoid greater impacts, and protect one of the main natural attractions of the Costa Maya, which are its beaches,” he emphasized.

An important fact is that with these measures, Mahahual is preparing to face the sargassum season with a comprehensive strategy that prioritizes the protection of its beaches, tourism activity, and the well-being of the local community.