Costa Maya, Q.R. — Sargassum collection brigades report collecting over 400 tons of seaweed in Costa Maya in six days. The massive removal was made between September 20 and 26 from beach areas of Mahahual and Xcalak.
In a statement, the Secretariat of the Navy reported “naval personnel are continuing with the implementation of the 2025 Sargassum Response Strategy with the goal of mitigating the negative effects of this seaweed on the environment, benefiting tourism and society, along the coast of the state of Quintana Roo.”
The Secretaria said “from September 20 to 26, approximately 405 tons of sargassum was collected from the beaches of Mahahual and Xcalak. This work was carried out by 73 members of this Naval Command and 80 civilians, including business owners, restaurateurs and service providers from the Port of Mahahual.
“Specialized machinery and various resources were also deployed for this purpose, maintaining 2,265 meters of containment barriers. This maintenance strategy has been possible thanks to close coordination between this institution, authorities from all levels of government and the active participation of organized civil society and the private sector,” they reported.
In the north of the state, authorities report a significant reduction in the arrival of sargassum after the recent bad weather. While the south saw more sargassum, areas such as Cancun recorded a reduction.
Antonio de la Torre Chambé, Director of Public Services for Benito Juárez, said that recent easterly winds contributed to the redirection of sargassum toward Cancun.
He says over the past week, Cancun beaches have seen less seaweed thanks to the two tropical waves. According to him, this phenomenon coincides with the start of the cold front season, which will extend until the first quarter of 2026. More than a dozen cold fronts are likely to affect the Yucatan Peninsula during the 2025-2026 winter season, according to local meteorologists.
Forecasts call for a gradual reduction in the number of sargassum strands as the end of the seaweed season nears. Other factors such as a drop in sea temperature and dispersion caused by weather patterns have also contributed to less sargassum.
