Quintana Roo ramps up sargassum cleanup as algae totals hit record levels

The Mexican state of Quintana Roo is bracing for an unprecedented influx of sargassum, with officials expecting collections to exceed 92,500 tonnes in 2026, surpassing the 2025 record of 87,000 tonnes. The state has deployed a 250‑ton‑per‑day ocean‑going vessel and plans to add a larger ship capable of three times that capacity, as part of a 777‑million‑peso investment to curb beach arrivals during the peak months of August‑October.

Tourism operators have warned that the massive algae blooms are hurting visitor numbers and revenues. Hotel associations have called on the federal government for a dedicated, funded plan, citing the cost of hiring marine barriers, lightweight machinery and staff to clear the shores. At the same time, the state government is promoting industrial uses for the harvested macroalgae, including bio‑fertilizers, biogas, construction blocks and bioplastics. A proposed industrialization project projects the creation of about 3,500 new jobs and aims to turn the environmental challenge into a sustainable economic opportunity. An international meeting on sargassum solutions, involving officials from Spain, Germany and the EU, is scheduled for October.

The combined effort underscores the importance of the algae crisis for the region’s tourism economy, environmental health and future industrial development.