28 Quintana Roo Beaches Hit by Sargazo Red Alert

Quintana Roo, Mexico — Yesterday, 28 of the 100 monitored beaches in Quintana Roo were reported under a red alert due to excessive sargazo influx, according to Esteban Amaro, director of the state’s Sargazo Monitoring Network. He warned that June will begin with a further increase in macroalgae arrivals along the coast.

Insufficient Cleanup Efforts Despite Daily Brigades

Amaro stated, “Unfortunately, the situation always worsens in summer.” The Sargazo Collection Monitoring System (SIMSAR) reported that 1,465.54 metric tons of the seaweed have been collected in May alone.

Cleanup operations are conducted both at sea and on land, with brigades working from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily. However, Amaro acknowledged, “It’s insufficient.”

Beach Classifications and Most Affected Areas

The sargazo traffic light system for northern Quintana Roo categorizes beaches as follows:

• Red (excessive): 28 beaches
• Orange (abundant): 32 beaches
• Yellow (moderate): 15 beaches
• Green (low presence): 20 beaches
• Blue (clear): 5 beaches

Cozumel is the hardest-hit area, with its entire eastern coast—facing open waters—under red alert. Twelve of its 24 monitored beaches are contaminated. Other affected zones include:

• Tulum: 6 beaches
• Playa del Carmen: 2 beaches (14 others under orange alert)
• Puerto Morelos: 5 beaches
• Benito Juárez: 3 beaches

The only sargazo-free beaches are Isla Contoy, Holbox Ferry, Punta Mosquitos, Cabo Catoche, and Chiquilá.

Economic Impact and Future Projections

The influx has reduced hotel occupancy to 30–35% during the low season, severely impacting local revenues. Tulum recorded the highest sargazo volume in May, collecting 1,222.94 metric tons, followed by Benito Juárez with 296.8 metric tons.

Satellite imagery from Sargassum Monitoring shows large seaweed patches moving from the central Atlantic toward Quintana Roo’s coastline, driven by marine currents and winds. Amaro predicts a 40% increase in sargazo arrivals by June, particularly in the central and southern regions.

The “sargazo belt” continues expanding across the Caribbean and Atlantic, though local impacts depend on ocean currents and wind patterns.