Puerto Morelos, Q.R. — Authorities are coordinating sargassum containment efforts in the municipality of Puerto Morelos. The goal is to minimize the impact of the seaweed arrival on the coastline.
Mayor Blanca Merari Tziu Muñoz led the work meeting to strengthen the Sargassum Containment Plan. During the meeting, the mayor emphasized the importance of maintaining constant coordination between all levels of government and the private sector.
“The key to tackling sargassum is the unity of all those involved. If we work together, we can minimize the impact of this macroalga on our beaches and on tourism, which is the economic engine of our municipality,” she said.
Authorities are working to protect the 20 kilometers of Puerto Morelos coast given the increased forecasts of sargassum for 2026.
The mayor reported that the strategy includes the installation of an anti-sargassum barrier in coordination with the Navy, hotels and the municipality. That barrier, like last year, which will stop a majority of the sargassum from reaching the beaches.
Gerardo Rosas García, the director of Puerto Morelos Zofemat, presented the general overview of the season and explained that the goal is to align the hotel barriers at an approximate distance of 150 meters from the coast which will allow the sargassum to be collected in shallow waters and facilitate its removal.
Rear Admiral Topiltzin Flores Jaramillo, in charge of the sargassum strategy for the Mexican Navy, reported that the sargassum-collecting vessel Natans, capable of collecting more than 200 tons per day, will be used.
In addition to sargassum-collecting boats, an amphibious vehicle will be used to transport the seaweed to land in order to expedite its removal and prevent its decomposition at sea.
Octavio Granados González, head of the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp) in the area and director of the Puerto Morelos Reef National Park, explained that technical studies will be carried out to define the anchoring zones for the barriers as well as the most suitable materials to contain the sargassum without affecting the marine ecosystem.
“Our government will continue to clean public beaches but we need each hotel to do its part so that the sargassum reaches its final destination, which is the containment zone located at kilometer 1.5 of the Cenote Route,” she said.
The recent meeting included the Mexican Navy (Semar), representatives from the hotel sector, the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas and specialists in the management of this macroalga.
