Sargassum affects 135 beaches in Quintana Roo

Sargassum seaweed continues to affect the coasts of Quintana Roo, with 135 out of 140 monitored beaches reporting its presence. According to the state semaphore from the Secretariat of Ecology and Environment (SEMA), the macroalgae is distributed across both northern and southern regions of the state.

In the northern zone, which includes 100 monitored beaches, only three remain free of sargassum. In the southern zone, only two of the 40 monitored beaches are reported to be clear. The accumulation levels vary from low to excessive. Authorities attribute the arrival of the seaweed to meteorological and maritime factors, specifically southeasterly winds and wave conditions.

In Cancun, municipal public services reported collecting approximately 1,760 tons of sargassum during September. While this is a decrease compared to the 6,684 tons collected in August of the previous year, the presence of the algae continues to place pressure on the tourism sector, including cleaning costs and potential impact on visitor experiences in the Riviera Maya.