Puerto Morelos, Q.R. — Mayor Blanca Merari Tziu Muñoz says ocean currents have been on their side this year resulting in less sargassum. The currents combined with the anti-sargassum barriers has meant less sargassum off their coast and reaching land.
The Puerto Morelos mayor said they officially began collecting seaweed in April and that the sands remain clean thanks to coordinated work efforts. She says the Ministry of the Navy and the State Government in a strategy implemented with the Ministry of Ecology and Environment has resulted in clean beaches.
“Fortunately, the ocean currents and the sargassum barrier have been on our side keeping much of our beaches clean of macroalgae and allowing visitors to appreciate the beauty of the white sand,” she said.
Blanca Merari Tziu indicated that the sandbanks are swept daily from early in the morning by the brigades coordinated by the Federal Maritime Land Zone. Those brigades, she said, cover the 1.8 kilometers of public beaches. They also coordinate with the resorts who also carry out cleanup work.
As part of the strategies recently implemented by Governor Mara Lezama to combat seaweed, the mayor visited the Zofemat workshop to verify the condition of the machinery used to remove the sargassum.
Accompanied by the Secretary of Environment, Animal Welfare, and Sustainable Mobility, Aimee Regina Rodríguez Vivas, the Mayor confirmed that the necessary tools are available.
“The removal of sargassum is a daunting task carried out daily manually by Zofemat employees. However, it’s important to ensure that we have the necessary machinery and vehicles in optimal condition to keep our beaches clean in the event of a massive grounding, even though we have observed periods of low impact on our coasts,” she said.
Blanca Merari Tziu emphasized that the beaches are an important asset for the destination, one of its main attractions. Therefore, efforts are being made to preserve them in addition to providing a suitable setting for sporting activities promoted by her government.
Zofemat Director Gerardo Rosas García reiterated that they are working closely with the Ministry of the Navy who are leading the efforts to combat sargassum, and of course with the Quintana Roo Ministry of the Environment on the strategies to be followed.
Rosas García reported that the department he leads has two sweepers, three agricultural tractors, one roll-off truck and five containers. They also rely on another sweeper, agricultural tractor, three sargassum conveyors and a generator provided to them on loan by federal government agencies.
