Sargassum Overwhelms 15 Quintana Roo Beaches

Quintana Roo, Mexico — A belt of sargassum seaweed in the Caribbean Sea threatens to wash ashore in the coming weeks along the coasts of Quintana Roo, with 15 of the 100 beaches monitored by the Sargassum Monitoring Network in the northern part of the state already reporting excessive arrivals of the macroalgae. Meanwhile, the Sargassum Collection Monitoring System (Simsar) reported that 3,059 metric tons have been collected at sea so far this year, while authorities estimate over 16,000 tons have been removed from land.

Municipalities Most Affected

The municipalities receiving the highest volume of sargassum in recent days include Tulum, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, and Benito Juárez, while Lázaro Cárdenas remains unaffected. Municipal workers warned that an increase in seaweed is expected next week.

According to the Sargassum Watch System (SaWS), an initiative by the University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science, a concentration of 31 million metric tons of sargassum has been detected in the Atlantic Ocean—a 40% increase compared to the previous record set in June 2022. The phenomenon spans over 5,500 nautical miles from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico, affecting key Caribbean regions and Florida’s coastline, including the Keys and Key Biscayne.

Economic Impact and Government Response

Óscar Rébora Aguilar, head of Quintana Roo’s Secretariat of Ecology and Environment, stated that sargassum influx has caused economic damages exceeding $2 billion in the region. Satellite images from USF and NOAA Coral Reef Watch reveal the expanding seaweed belt, which is expected to grow further in the coming months.

Beaches Under Red Alert

The Sargassum Monitoring Network’s map, covering areas from Tulum to Holbox, identifies the following beaches under red alert:

• Tulum: Punta Piedra, Xcacel-Xcacelito, and Akumal.
• Playa del Carmen: Playacar Ferry, Fundadores, El Recodo, Colosio, and Punta Esmeralda.
• Cozumel: Chen Río, Chumul, Mezcalitos, El Castillo, Xhanan, and Punta Molas.

In Cancún, only Playa Coral, located at kilometer 20 of Boulevard Kukulcán, was flagged with excessive sargassum.

Current Monitoring Data

The network reported that 35 beaches have abundant seaweed arrivals, 10 show moderate levels, 35 have low presence, and five remain completely clean—all located in Contoy and Holbox in the northern part of the state.

Heavy machinery, including excavators, has been deployed to remove the seaweed, even as tourists continue to visit affected areas. Videos circulating on social media show the cleanup efforts underway.

Projections for 2025

Authorities anticipate this year’s sargassum collection will surpass 2024 levels, with ongoing challenges for the region’s tourism-dependent economy.