Playa del Carmen Clears 8,000 Tons of Sargassum from Beaches

Playa del Carmen, Mexico — The Playa del Carmen municipal government, in close coordination with the Mexican Navy and the state government, has removed over 8,000 tons of sargassum from the city’s beaches during the current season, marking one of the most intensive cleanup operations recorded this year.

Samantha Álvarez, the municipal Secretary of Environment and Climate Change, reported that weather conditions, particularly southeasterly winds, have intensified the influx of the seaweed, severely affecting areas such as El Recodo and Punta Esmeralda, where cleanup crews are working around the clock.

“El Recodo is a critical hotspot. We see sargassum accumulation every year, but this season has been more intense. We are operating at full capacity,” Álvarez stated.

A Coordinated Effort

More than 100 personnel are currently deployed in the field, including municipal workers, state brigades, and 50 naval personnel assigned by the Mexican Navy. The operation also utilizes specialized machinery and marine sargassum collection vessels provided by the state government.

Álvarez described the effort as a “titanic human undertaking” and announced plans to issue a new call for additional beach cleanup workers, with support from municipal departments such as the Youth Directorate.

Historical Sargassum Accumulation Data

Since 2019, the volume of sargassum collected in Playa del Carmen has varied significantly:

• 2019: 23,000 tons
• 2020: 9,760 tons
• 2021: 21,112 tons
• 2022: 37,533 tons (highest recorded peak)
• 2023: 26,351 tons
• 2024: 13,663 tons
• 2025 (as of May): 8,000 tons

“This is an annual phenomenon we face in varying degrees. That’s why we won’t stop. We continue working with constant operations and new massive cleanup efforts,” Álvarez emphasized.

The municipal government reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining clean beaches in Playa del Carmen, ensuring a safe and pleasant experience for tourists and residents while protecting coastal ecosystems. The effort requires sustained coordination, resources, and perseverance.