Sargasso Seaweed Crisis: Business Leaders Urge Mexico to Declare Natural Disaster

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — The head of the Riviera Maya Business Coordinating Council has called on President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration to classify sargasso seaweed as a natural disaster, citing severe economic damage to the region’s tourism industry.

Ramón Cárdenas González said the unprecedented volume of the macroalgae washing ashore this year, particularly in Playa del Carmen, has caused losses that could have long-term consequences if not addressed.

“What’s arriving now is far more than in previous years. They should designate it as a natural disaster. While we don’t face the risk of loss of life like with other natural disasters, the economic impact is very strong. If the destination isn’t given proper attention, we could face consequences that won’t be easy to recover from,” Cárdenas González said.

He proposed a public-private partnership involving all three levels of government and the private sector to fund machinery, personnel, and cleanup operations.

“We could form a public-private association with a company that has the financial resources, equipment, and staff to invest and benefit everyone,” he added.

Cárdenas González warned that if the seaweed influx intensifies, the area will have to market other attractions. “We’ll have to sell something else. Unfortunately, if we don’t have the destination, if we can’t provide the service — what we sold in Playa del Carmen was the beaches, the sand, and right now that’s what we don’t have. Of course we’re growing as a community, as a municipality, as a development; hotels and city infrastructure are expanding, and we need to cover other sectors and diversify our economy,” he said.

Meanwhile, a professor at Florida International University is researching ways to turn sargasso into food products such as ice cream, soups, sauces, and sports drinks.