Mahahual, Quintana Roo — The influx of sargassum along the Grand Costa Maya is under control, with preventive measures and at-sea removal efforts keeping beaches largely clear, authorities said.
Vice Admiral Marco Antonio Muñoz Hernández, commander of the Mexican Navy’s XI Naval Zone, said sargassum arrival in Mahahual is manageable. More than 2,300 meters of containment barriers installed ahead of the season have helped reduce the amount of seaweed reaching the shore.
“We are working with the municipality of Othón P. Blanco and the state government to remove sargassum at sea,” Muñoz Hernández said. “We deployed barriers and plan to extend them another 500 meters south to further reduce the seaweed coming from the south and protect the tourist area of Mahahual. The situation is still manageable, and the Navy is contributing to the effort.”
The amount of sargassum arriving varies daily, with some days seeing as little as a few tons and others reaching 50 to 60 tons, he noted.
Although forecasts predict a higher volume this season compared to last year, the coordinated strategy among federal, state, and local authorities has kept the Grand Costa Maya beaches largely free of the macroalgae.
The Mexican Caribbean ended 2025 with the highest sargassum accumulation in seven years, collecting nearly 97,000 tons along Quintana Roo’s coasts and beaches.
