Tulum authorities limit machinery use to protect beaches during sargassum cleanup

Authorities in Tulum report that beach sand levels have remained stable despite the current sargassum season. This stability is attributed to coordinated efforts between the Maritime Terrestrial Federal Zone (Zofemat), the Mexican Navy (Semar), and the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (Conanp) to minimize the use of heavy machinery during seaweed removal.

David Buchanan, head of Zofemat, noted that while improper cleaning practices can accelerate erosion by removing sand alongside the macroalgae, current efforts aim to prevent unnecessary material loss. Once the sargassum season concludes, authorities plan to implement a program to recover and redistribute sand in the most affected areas. However, due to the atypical and prolonged nature of this year's sargassum presence, exact recovery estimates are not yet available.

Regarding sand reduction in areas like Akumal, Buchanan clarified that natural factors, including marine currents and seasonal changes, also play a role. Meanwhile, Tulum Mayor Diego Castañón Trejo stated that the municipality will increase promotion of the cleanest beaches to encourage tourism as sargassum levels have recently decreased.