Sargassum Seaweed Invasion: Quintana Roo Beaches Travel Alert

The Mexican Caribbean is once again on high alert due to the invasion of sargassum seaweed. This article details the cleanest beaches to visit and the times of year when the seaweed is most prevalent.

Sargassum can grow up to 4 meters high and often detaches from the seafloor, causing it to float on the water's surface. While it plays a critical role in marine ecosystems by providing food and habitat for invertebrates, turtles, and fish, and producing oxygen through photosynthesis, excessive amounts can harm corals and certain marine species. It also spoils beaches and releases a foul smell when decomposing.

The Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) reported an unusually high amount of sargassum on the Mexican Caribbean coasts in the summer of 2013. Since then, it has become a recurring issue. Climate change impacts such as increased nutrients and water temperature, and wind and marine currents, have caused the seaweed to grow rapidly and move beyond its original distribution area.

According to the Interdisciplinary Group for the Study of Sargassum (GIES) from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the sargassum season in Cancun and other coastal areas typically aligns with the spring and summer months, peaking between May and August.

The Environmental Monitoring and Climate Change Network of the Caribbean Sea predicts a 30% increase in sargassum arriving in Quintana Roo in 2025, with an estimated 23 to 25 million tons heading towards the Mexican Caribbean. In response, the Secretariat of the Navy and local governments have implemented the Sargassum Action Strategy, which includes satellite monitoring, maritime surveillance, the deployment of sargassum ships, and personnel for collection and barrier installation. A 2.5 kilometer barrier has recently been installed off the coast of Playa del Carmen, one of the most affected areas.

Regular studies are conducted to inform the public about the beaches with the most and least sargassum. The latest reports from the Environmental Monitoring and Climate Change Network of the Caribbean Sea and the Sargassum Monitoring Network of Quintana Roo indicate that the following beaches have a high concentration of sargassum:

• The entire east coast of Cozumel (including Punta Molas, Xhanan, El Castillo, Mezcalitos, Chumul, Chen Río, Mirador San Martin, San Martin, Bonita, Encantada, El Mirador, and Punta Celarain).
• Playa Arco Maya (near the Reserve of the