Sargassum Barrier Not Viable for Entire Quintana Roo Coast, Experts Warn

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Installing anti-sargassum barriers along the entire coastline of Quintana Roo is not feasible due to ocean conditions and the need to protect sensitive ecosystems such as reefs and seagrass beds, warned Antonio Ortiz Hernández, a biologist on the Sustainability Committee of the Cancún, Puerto Morelos, and Isla Mujeres Hotel Association.

Ortiz explained that beyond technical limitations, the barriers require constant removal of trapped sargassum, as its accumulation can degrade water quality. The main challenge for hotel operators is currently concentrated along the coastal strip between Cancún and Puerto Morelos, where increasing volumes of the algae have complicated cleanup efforts.

He warned that if massive landings continue, sargassum buildup on the shoreline could cause water discoloration and contribute to erosion, especially when heavy machinery is used for removal. Hotels have developed protocols prioritizing the use of sweepers to reduce beach impact.

After a decade of dealing with the phenomenon, the hotel sector has learned that barriers should only be installed where oceanographic conditions allow and where they pose no risk to ecosystems or navigation, Ortiz stressed. They are not a one-size-fits-all solution for the entire coast.

Fernando Haro, director of Ecology for the Benito Juárez municipality, said the city is coordinating with the state Environment Department (SEMA) as part of the state strategy to address the sargassum influx. If a proposal to install barriers in the Nichupté Lagoon moves forward, the municipality will participate in its implementation. The most recent barrier installed in Cancún is at Playa del Niño, while a project for Playa Coral remains on hold.