Playa del Carmen May Be Sargassum-Free in 3 Months

Playa del Carmen, Mexico — The coasts of Playa del Carmen may be completely clear of sargassum within three months, according to José Gómez Burgos, secretary of the Caribbean Sea Tourism Cooperative.

Authorities Aim to Accelerate Cleanup Efforts

Gómez Burgos stated in a brief interview that while more sargassum is expected to wash ashore in the coming weeks, coordinated efforts by local authorities, personnel from the Federal Maritime Land Zone (Zofemat), and the Mexican Navy could significantly reduce the cleanup timeline.

Historically, beaches affected by large influxes of the macroalgae have taken approximately six months to recover naturally. However, with organized intervention, Gómez Burgos estimates the process could be halved.

Challenges in the City Center

The most heavily impacted areas are the beaches in Playa del Carmen’s city center, where shifting easterly winds have driven sargassum past offshore barriers, leading to significant accumulation.

“The beaches are impacted, at least those in the center. They’re saturated with mud,” Gómez Burgos explained. “The main park area has new sargassum because we have an easterly wind, and the sargassum that passes the barrier is settling there.”

He warned that if the seaweed is not collected promptly, changing wind patterns could push it further inland, complicating removal efforts as the material decomposes rapidly.

Urgent Action Needed

Gómez Burgos emphasized that allowing the sargassum to remain would prolong the recovery process. “Stockpiling that mud there will increase the recovery time. In fact, it’s already closing the beach. That’s where people walk. There won’t be any more passage for people to get from street to street.”

He reiterated that while natural cleanup would take over six months, active removal by authorities could restore normal conditions within three months.