Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Quintana Roo — Sargassum is disrupting lobster fishing for about 50 fishermen in the community of María Elena, threatening an already weak season that runs from July 2026 to February 2027.
The influx of the seaweed has made it difficult to access the sea and reduced fishing productivity, according to local fishermen. They are now seeking alternatives to contain the sargassum and prevent further economic damage to families dependent on the catch.
Pablo Catzin Pech, secretary of the Cozumel cooperative based in María Elena, said the drop in lobster captures is a major concern for its members, who rely almost entirely on this activity. He noted that in 2024, fishermen caught 9 tons of lobster in the first five months of the season, but by November 2025, production had fallen to just 4.5 tons. “We don’t export directly; we send it to intermediaries, and they handle the export,” Catzin Pech explained. The cooperative operates 14 boats and has guaranteed buyers, but the declining catch is cutting into their income.
In response, residents have proposed a project to contain the sargassum, which has already received environmental authorization because the community lies within a nature reserve. However, the project has not yet been implemented, leaving fishermen to rely on temporary measures. Roberto Ucan, the community’s subdelegate, said they have placed pallets to ease access to the embarkation area, but acknowledged this is insufficient. He plans to open talks with reserve officials to install wooden walkways and build docks to improve conditions.
In Felipe Carrillo Puerto, only two communities—María Elena and Punta Herrero—depend on fishing, primarily for lobster and other marine species. This year’s sargassum has compounded their challenges, raising uncertainty about the rest of the season.
