37,000 Tons of Sargassum Threaten Mexico’s Beaches

Cancún, Quintana Roo — The Mexican Navy has reported the presence of 37,599 tons of sargassum in the Caribbean Sea this weekend, prompting authorities to maintain a Level 5 (HIGH) alert due to ocean currents and wind patterns. Satellite imagery and predictive models indicate imminent landings of the seaweed along multiple coastal areas.

Projected Landings Across Key Tourist Zones

An estimated 65 tons of sargassum are expected to wash ashore in the coming hours across beaches in Tulum, western Cozumel, Akumal, Puerto Aventuras, Playa del Carmen, and Puerto Morelos. Meanwhile, Mahahual could receive up to 215 tons.

The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) has confirmed that this year’s sargassum influx will exceed previous years by over 40%. Since late March, Quintana Roo’s Sargassum Monitoring Network has identified approximately 40 million metric tons floating in the ocean, with at least 10% (4 million tons) approaching Mexican Caribbean waters.

Ocean Currents May Divert Majority of Seaweed

According to the monitoring network, up to 90% of the sargassum could be carried away by the Yucatán Channel currents, leaving only 10% likely to reach the state’s coastlines. These findings align with data from the University of South Florida’s Optical Oceanography Lab, which recorded a 150% increase in sargassum volume across the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and western Atlantic in April compared to historical averages.

Ecological and Economic Impacts

The Tourism and Society Think Tank highlights severe consequences for coastal ecosystems, tourism, and local communities. UNAM warns that decomposing sargassum releases toxic gases, including hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, which have previously harmed marine life and human health.