Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — In addition to a drop in visitor numbers, members of the Cooperativa Turística Mar Caribe are facing damage to their boats that has already cost between 100,000 and 200,000 pesos (about $5,000 to $10,000 USD).
According to cooperative president José Gómez Burgos, business has been inconsistent not only because of sargasso but also due to port closures. For the past six weeks, those who anchor in the El Recodo area have suffered from the macroalgae, which has turned into a swampy mess that no visitor wants to cross.
Gómez said the anti-sargasso barrier is improperly positioned, allowing the seaweed to enter and become trapped by the current.
The decomposing sargasso has damaged boats over the last two weeks, specifically the metal fittings on engines, forcing the cooperative to spend money on repairs and look for alternative anchoring spots. As a result, the few tourists who do request services are first taken to locations where they can board the boats safely.
Gómez added that the lack of a dedicated docking pier for small boats compounds the problem.
He said they expect a storm in the coming days, which could lead to another port closure.
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