Puerto Morelos Intensifies Sargassum Fight With Barriers, Daily Cleanups

Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo — Puerto Morelos has stepped up its fight against sargassum with a 2,310-meter anti-sargassum barrier, the longest in Quintana Roo, and daily cleanup brigades involving the Mexican Navy, municipal workers, and volunteers.

Sergio Chalé Gómez, director of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources for Puerto Morelos, said the barrier stretches from Punta Brava to Punta Petempich, protecting the municipality’s 19 kilometers of coastline. Despite the barrier, an atypical influx of the macroalgae has forced authorities to redouble efforts.

“The sargassum collectors are at critical points. The Navy has collection groups in Bahía Petempich, where it hits hardest. We also coordinate with hotels like The Fives and El Cid, which provide personnel and machinery for special cleanups,” Chalé Gómez said.

He noted that at least three large-scale cleanups have been held with 100 participants from the Navy and the municipality. The priority is constant work, as the local economy depends entirely on beach tourism.

While the barrier is functioning, the volume of sargassum in 2026 already exceeds previous years. The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) reported a record 37.5 million tons in the Atlantic in 2025, and remnants persist in 2026. Puerto Morelos reinforced its barriers in March, ahead of the Easter holiday period.

Chalé Gómez said the roughly 20 tons of sargassum arriving weekly is considered a moderate influx, compared to the peak season of 2019–2022, when up to 100 tons per day were collected. “Currently, the collection is manageable,” he said.

As of April 3, the Navy had collected 16,797 tons across Quintana Roo. Puerto Morelos alone had accumulated 3,410.50 tons by the end of April.