Mexico Now Harvests Sargassum as Fishery Resource

Chetumal, Mexico — The Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) has announced that sargassum seaweed has been officially classified as a fishery resource, enabling its collection in open waters before it reaches Mexican shores.

Promoting Sustainable Use and Mitigating Environmental Impact

Alicia Bárcena, head of Semarnat, confirmed that the update to the National Fishing Charter was enacted on August 6. The measure aims to prevent massive accumulations of the algae on beaches while promoting its sustainable utilization. The revised charter, published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF), identifies sargassum as a potentially exploitable natural resource for applications such as animal feed supplements, fertilizers, biofuels, bioplastics, bioremediation agents, and water purification systems.

Harvesting Under Fishing Permits

The agreement, signed by Julio Berdegué of the Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), stipulates that sargassum may be harvested under a “Fishing Promotion Permit.” Vessels equipped with specialized machinery and collection belts will be authorized for extraction. The DOF publication emphasizes the need for scientific research and technological innovation to minimize bycatch.

Causes and Scale of Sargassum Proliferation

Studies by the Mexican Institute of Research in Sustainable Fishing and Aquaculture (IMIPAS) attribute the surge in sargassum to rising sea surface temperatures, nutrient influx from multiple sources, and abnormal wind patterns in the Central Eastern Atlantic since 2009–2010. Between 2018 and 2024, an estimated 13,207 to 63,252 metric tons of sargassum reached the Mexican Caribbean coast. The initial annual harvest target is set at 945 cubic kilometers (equivalent to 945,000 tons) in open waters.

Economic and Environmental Initiatives

In early July, Bárcena announced the creation of a Circular Economy Park in Quintana Roo to process sargassum into products such as bricks, footwear, and dyes. The project aims to generate local employment while addressing the environmental challenge.