Costa Maya, Q.R. — Residents in the community of Xcalak are asking authorities to help clear their beaches of sargassum. The Costa Maya town, located south of Mahahual, has also been hit hard by the mass arrival of seaweed.
Local fishermen have been clearing what they can, but say their efforts have been in vain due to the amount that has washed up. One fisherman who did not want to be named said after days of manual removal, the amount on the beach has not decreased.
In the nearby town of Mahahual, campaigns have helped to get them sargassum removal support from the Navy and other agencies. However, residents in Xcalak say they have not been in included in those beach cleaning efforts.
“This is already critical. We’re overflowing with sargassum. The beaches are overflowing and people can’t get in the water. It’s really ugly and people don’t want to come anymore.
“It would be good if the government took a look at us and also came to clean up because not only is it causing us the same harm by driving away tourism, but the sea is decomposing and the strong odors are also not good for anyone’s health” explained the resident fisherman.
He says one of the main tourist attractions in Costa Maya is sustainable sport fishing. Others are attracted to the tranquility and contact with nature that Xcalak offers, however, their current image of sargassum covered beaches is discouraging to visitors.
He says they depend on the arrival of tourists, some of which have cancelled reservations which cause economic hardship and worsens the situation.
“We clean but the truth is we can’t keep up. There’s so much sargassum right now here in Xcalak. So, what we’re asking is that just as they’re cleaning Mahahual, they come here too so we can do something because there’s not much tourism coming in and we can’t give tours, we can’t go fishing.
“So we’re in dire straits and if it’s like this in the summer, we’re going to be in serious trouble,” he said.
In early May, authorities reported collecting more than 100 tons of wet sargassum from Mahahual beaches in a single day. Mayor Yensunni Martínez Hernández led the intensive Mahahual cleanup effort saying her government is actively joining the comprehensive, large-scale strategy to combat the arrival of sargassum.
