Sargasso Blankets Over a Kilometer of Coastline in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — More than a kilometer of coastline in Playa del Carmen is covered in sargasso seaweed, and local tourism workers say the small cleanup crews from the Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone (Zofemat) are insufficient to handle the removal. Beach erosion is also worsening, and tourism operators are urging authorities to step up efforts to restore the sand.

“It’s incredible what we’re experiencing in this so-called paradise. Playa del Carmen is running out of sand. Some tourists who come down to sunbathe have to rest on the patches of sand that remain. Despite this, government authorities fail to prioritize its recovery,” said diver Jeremías Torres.

Foreign tourists leave their countries to vacation in clean, safe destinations, and this resort town is falling short of international standards, having lost its beach certifications, Torres added.

“I’ve lived in this city for 20 years. Back then, the beaches were up to 30 meters wide, with warm sand and turquoise waters that we all enjoyed. Foreign tourists returned home full of emotions. Today it’s the opposite. We’re not only losing beaches, but the economy is collapsing because high-spending tourists have stopped coming,” said José Domínguez López, a water tourism service provider.

“Playa del Carmen is being hit by sargasso, beach erosion, and also insecurity. Despite these factors affecting everyone’s economy, municipal authorities have shown no interest in strengthening strategies to recover the sand or combat crime,” Domínguez López said.