Quintana Roo authorities launch strategy to combat sargassum

Authorities in Quintana Roo have established an institutional cabinet to coordinate the cleaning, monitoring, and management of sargassum seaweed. In Puerto Morelos, officials from municipal, state, and federal levels are working to manage the macroalgae, which accounts for 22,000 tons of the 154,000 tons collected in the state so far.

To guide cleanup efforts, officials are utilizing monitoring from 12 satellites to direct the Mexican Navy in placing barriers and conducting beach collection. Coordination between state and municipal governments has helped double sea-based extraction to 25,000 tons. The strategy also explores industrializing the seaweed through circular economy models.

Governor Mara Lezama is leading efforts to prepare for significant increases in seaweed volume. Scientists predict that sargassum levels could reach 80 million tons by 2027, a substantial rise from 38 million tons in 2025 and 60 million tons in 2026. The administration is maintaining coordination with the Mexican federal government, scientific institutions, and international organizations to address the phenomenon affecting the entire Caribbean region.