Sargassum Strategy Lag Threatens Mexican Caribbean

Tulum, Mexico — The atypical presence of sargassum on the coasts of the Mexican Caribbean during the winter season has raised alarms among real estate developers, who warn that the problem continues to be addressed reactively rather than at its source, increasing its environmental, economic, and social impacts.

This was stated by Gustavo Maldonado Saldaña, representative of the Riviera Maya Real Estate Developers Association, who pointed out that the implemented actions focus on the final phase of the phenomenon, when sargassum has already arrived on the beaches, instead of addressing the causes that promote its massive proliferation.

The specialist explained that the phenomenon originates in the Atlantic, particularly in the Cape Verde area of Africa, and is enhanced by the discharge of nutrients from South American rivers, mainly in the Brazil region. This combination creates conditions that favor accelerated reproduction of the algae, whose mass can double in less than two weeks, exponentially increasing its impact on the Caribbean.

Maldonado Saldaña warned that, despite the international dimension of the problem, Mexico has not managed to consolidate an effective strategy before multilateral organizations that would allow addressing the phenomenon from its origin. He indicated that there are regional and international bodies capable of coordinating actions among affected countries, but so far no management with concrete results is perceived.

Regarding the satellite images that have circulated recently and show large concentrations of sargassum in the open sea, he considered that they represent a worrying scenario, as they anticipate a season with greater volumes of arrival if preventive measures are not implemented. He noted that barriers and containment actions help mitigate the immediate impact but do not solve the underlying problem.

From an environmental point of view, he emphasized that the accumulation and decomposition of sargassum alters water transparency, directly affecting coral reefs and seagrass beds, key ecosystems for marine biodiversity. He added that these impacts generate a chain of consequences that go beyond tourism, affecting the ecological balance of the region.

On another topic, the real estate sector representative stated that the sargassum problem adds to a context of uncertainty that has caused a contraction in foreign investment in destinations like Tulum. Factors such as insecurity, lack of legal certainty, and the international environment have led to various projects remaining stalled, awaiting clearer conditions.

He specified that these are not canceled investments but contained ones, as investors prefer to observe how economic, legal, and political scenarios evolve before reactivating capital. However, he acknowledged that this pause generates concern, as these are projects that had already started and now remain without a defined resumption date.

Finally, Maldonado Saldaña considered that, despite the adversities, challenges can transform into opportunities if there is a transition from discourse to joint action between public and private sectors, with a strategic vision that allows comprehensively addressing both the environmental crisis of sargassum and the economic environment facing the region.