Cancun, Quintana Roo — Quintana Roo has collected more than 42,000 tons of sargasso so far in 2026, as an early arrival of the seaweed prompted authorities to ramp up containment and cleanup efforts along the Mexican Caribbean coast.
Oscar Rébora Aguilera, head of the state’s Ecology and Environment Department (SEMA), reported that 42,105 tons of the macroalgae have been removed to date. Work is underway to expand the installation of anti-sargasso barriers at various tourist destinations.
The state currently has 7,608 meters of barriers in place: 2,300 meters in Puerto Morelos, 2,600 in Playa del Carmen, 408 in Tulum, and 2,300 in Mahahual. The goal for this year is to reach 16,000 meters of marine infrastructure.
Rébora explained that the early sargasso arrival forced authorities to launch intensive beach cleaning operations in March, using specialized machinery and ground crews.
As part of the state strategy, officials plan to install at least 400 meters of anti-sargasso barriers in Cancun, following feasibility studies conducted with the Mexican Navy and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
Although specific beaches have not yet been selected, authorities aim to reduce the environmental and tourism impact of the algae in priority areas.
Rébora said that this year the state purchased an additional 7,500 meters of barriers to replace and reinforce the existing system, as about 3,000 meters are damaged annually by waves and currents.
Despite the increased influx, he assured that more than 40 beaches in the state remain in favorable condition, classified as green or blue, indicating low to moderate sargasso presence.
