With the official Sargasse season underway, the authorities along the Maya Riviera in Mexico are preparing for a record influx of the disorderly algae this summer.
Sargassum flowers are on the ground earlier than normal this year, and Esteban Amaro, director of Quintana Roo Sargassum surveillance systemsaid Forecasts for 2025 is worrying.
“We expect more intense and more frequent arrivals on the whole coast,” he said.
Amaro said that satellite images indicate that the accumulation of sargasse this summer will be greater than the region that has seen it in three years.
“Last year, we collected more than 40,000 metric tonnes, and we will easily exceed this figure this year,” he said.
Brown algae known as Sargasse are naturally beneficial for open ocean marine ecosystems, but becomes harmful to marine life, plants, corals and human health when large quantities reach the coast. By decomposing, Sargassum gives off a foul odor similar to rotten eggs.
The accumulation of sargasse along the Maya Riviera generally culminates during the summer months of April or May to August, but can persist in November. Last year, Quintana Roo did not declare the Sargasse season before November 14.
Early quantities of algae have been washing on the ground since 2011, posing a challenge to the authorities while they work to keep the beaches clean and in safety for tourism, a main source of income in the region.
At the end of March, officials along the Caribbean coast of Mexico reported an increase in sargasse compared to last year.
The popular tourist destination of Tulum collected 50% of algae in addition in January and February compared to the same period of last year, according to the federal maritime land area (Zofemat).
The Ministry of Ecology and the Environment of the State said that in mid-April, a total of 10,236 metric tonnes of Sargasse had been collected in the coastal areas of Playa Del Carmen, Othón P. Blanco and Puerto Morelos.
Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama recognized the official start of the Sargasse season On April 15, describing the containment plans for his administration and saying that keeping the beaches are a shared responsibility.
The first phase, or containment phase, saw around 9,500 meters of barriers installed off the state coasts to strategic locations to contain the algae and redirect it to collection points
Amaro said that if barriers are an essential element in the protection of Mexico beaches, the possibility that climatic conditions cause a massive influx of sargasse flowers forces the authorities to redouble their efforts.
The Ministry of Navy has also implemented a surveillance phase designed to locate floating masses of Sargasse which could have an impact on the beaches, attributing 11 coastal ships of Sargasse and 22 smaller ships to the task.
With reports from 24 hours of Quintana Roo And Riviera Maya News
