Puerto Aventuras, Quintana Roo — Faced with a surge in sargassum arrivals that threatens tourism and nautical activities, members of the maritime community in Puerto Aventuras launched a cleanup operation Tuesday, using their own boats to collect the seaweed from the jetty and the Caleta.
Starting around 7 a.m., service providers, captains, and boat owners began removing the accumulated sargassum from one of the most important areas for navigation and recreation in this residential-tourist complex.
The initiative comes as the installation of anti-sargassum barriers — approved by residents during a mid-February assembly — continues. The project includes a main barrier 900 meters long, plus two complementary structures to be placed in front of the Yacht Club Caleta and Kantenah Caleta to reduce seaweed inflow.
The investment for these works totals 6.6 million pesos (about $350,000 USD), and installation is already underway, according to progress reports.
But with the problem persisting and the need to keep waterways suitable for navigation and tourism, the maritime community decided to act immediately to contain the effects of the sargassum.
Participants noted that the seaweed not only harms the destination’s image but also impacts the local economy, especially as vacation rentals and tourist occupancy have declined, worrying business owners and service providers.
