Sargassum once again marks the pulse of the Caribbean coasts with irregular but persistent arrivals, which forces operational adjustments almost daily. Far from being a one-off, the phenomenon has become a seasonal challenge that combines science, logistics, and coordination between administrations and the private sector.
In the Mexican Caribbean, the season extends from april to october and requires a continuous effort to contain and clean up. The Navy reports intense activity offshore and on beaches, supported by specialized vessels and kilometers of coastal barriers to divert slicks before grounding.
Quintana Roo intensifies collection and diversion
Quintana Roo authorities reported that they have already withdrawn more than 76.000 tons of sargassum, adding what was collected in the sand and what was diverted at sea. The operation includes containment units, collection vessels and more than 9.000 meters of barriers to block direct access to the coast.
The work has been concentrated on critical points such as Isla Mujeres, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Mahahual, among other stretches of the coast. The key is to intercept floating patches when the tides and winds still allow efficient diversion maneuvers.
The pace of arrival changes with time and weather: after several days of calm, Tulum woke up with a new episode of accumulation, confirmed Zofemat. Crews activated an early cleanup to prevent the algae from degrading on the shore and complicating its removal.
In rocky areas such as Santa Fe (Tulum National Park), algae often accumulate, staining stretches of beach. With support from the Navy, the work selective retirement They improve the image of areas of high tourist interest, although the swaying of the sargassum continues to depend on winds and currents.
An Atlantic belt that crosses from coast to coast
Satellites have once again captured the magnitude of the phenomenon in the open sea, with a 8.800-kilometer Sargassum Belt extending from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico. In May, estimates were 37,5 million metric tons along that strip.
The vegetation is composed mainly of Sargassum natans and Sargassum fluitans, pelagic species with gas bladders that allow them to float and travel great distances. Their drift depends on currents, winds and nutrient contributions that boost their growth.
Regional investigations point to a increased nitrogen in sargassum tissues 55% since the 1980s, linked to agricultural runoff, wastewater, and atmospheric deposition. Under nutrient-rich conditions, biomass can double in about 11 days in laboratory tests.
In the open sea, floating blankets create refuge for fish, turtles and crustaceans, to the point of being considered essential habitat for multiple species. The problem arises when winds bring the patches closer to the coast and trigger the mass stranding.
Impact on the coast: odors, anoxia and cleanup costs
Once on the beach, the sargassum decomposes quickly, releasing hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, compounds that generate bad odors and discomfort, as reported health and environmental alerts. In addition, degradation can create oxygen-poor zones, affect shallow reefs and force temporary closures of some sections.
Daily management combines mechanical and manual removal, storage and transport logistics, and protocols to minimize sand removalEven so, cleaning costs are in the millions, especially during periods of persistent flooding.
The behavior is uneven by area: while Tulum is chaining increases, in Bavaro (Punta Cana) There has been a recent improvement with clearer beaches and a visibly cleaner sea. This variability is due to local patterns of wind, rain and currents.
Belize prepares for the upcoming season
Although in Belize the arrival has decreased in recent weeks, the Government avoids declaring the season closed. The competent Ministry emphasizes that sargassum is recurring and will return, which is why it is committed to strengthening its capabilities from now on.
The Sargassum Working Group discussed measures to surveillance and tracking, incorporation of new technologies, purchase of equipment and financing channels. The approach will be preventive to be better prepared before the next cycle of calls.
Sargassum barriers: there is no single recipe
A technical forum held in Quintana Roo brought together suppliers and specialists to share field experiences on sargassum barriers. The premise: there is no one-size-fits-all solution for beaches, because local conditions They rule over the design.
Effectiveness depends on bathymetry, bottom slope, wave exposure and direction of arrival of the spots. Rather than “closing” completely, the strategy pursues divert the flow towards more suitable and safer collection points.
Mexico bears one of the greatest impacts, with more than 800 kilometers of coastline exposed to the main flow of macroalgae, but also leads knowledge and technologies that already operate in almost 20 countries in the Caribbean and Central America.
The meeting involved national and international experts, including academia, and companies with success storiesThe conclusion was clear: document, standardize and disseminate what was learned to scale solutions where the pressure of sargassum is older.
The outlook combines signs of relief in some destinations and rebounds in others, while the great Atlantic belt leads the way. More effective management integrates monitoring, diversion and collection, inter-institutional coordination and decisions tailored to the location, knowing that the phenomenon will continue to return and will require early planning.
