Sargassum Seaweed Crisis Hits Majahual Beaches, Awaited Response

Sargassum seaweed has started to appear on the beaches of Majahual. However, the Mexican Naval Marine (Semar) has yet to schedule containment and removal efforts for the macroalgae, according to Luis Gamero Barranco, the general secretary of the Municipality of Othón P. Blanco. The absence of a clear strategy has created uncertainty among local tourism service providers and residents, who are awaiting an effective response to the early arrival of the seaweed.

Despite the sargassum starting to cover the coastline, the municipality is still waiting for guidelines from the state and federal government. Barranco explained that the response to this issue is coordinated through a committee, with Semar leading the strategy and the state government and municipal administration providing support.

The Othón P. Blanco Municipality is responsible for collecting the sargassum with heavy machinery and transporting the seaweed to a disposal site. The municipality also plans to hire temporary workers to expedite beach clean-up efforts and minimize the environmental and economic impact of the sargassum in Majahual.

However, the lack of an official schedule from Semar for the installation of a sargassum barrier and the commencement of collection efforts remains a significant concern. The Majahual tourist community hopes that strategies will be defined and implemented promptly in the coming days to prevent further damage during the upcoming holiday season.