Akumal, Q.R. — Akumal hosted the first sargassum barrier forum lead by six leading international suppliers. The September 11 meeting was held to discuss strategies for the proper use and installation of the anti-seaweed containers.
Iván Pennie, a specialist in integrated coastal management and collaborator with Océanos International and EcoProtección Akumal, explained that the forum arose from the need to promote a comprehensive approach to the use of barriers. He says the anti-sargassum barriers are an essential part of a broader strategy for controlling sargassum near the coast.
He noted that although booms have been used for years to contain hydrocarbons, their application in sargassum management is relatively new which has led to errors and an often negative perception due to misuse or lack of knowledge.
Pennie reported that the first edition of the forum brought together six of the leading international suppliers and specialists in sargassum barriers who were willing to discuss and share experiences with members of the State Committee for Sargassum Management in Quintana Roo and the state’s government officials.
He made it clear that the forum did not have a commercial focus but rather a technical and practical one aimed at determining what types of barriers work in each specific coastal context, since there is no one-size-fits-all solution for all Quintana Roo beaches.
Pennie explained that the effectiveness of anti-sargassum barriers depends on factors such as bathymetry, seafloor slope and its relationship to the flow of sargassum driven by trade winds.
He stressed that the objective is not to completely contain the sargassum, but rather to divert its trajectory to facilitate its collection in more suitable locations.
“It’s not about containing such a large mass but rather diverting it to a more convenient location for collection. That’s the smartest thing you can do with barriers,” said Pennie.
Forum speakers said approximately 19 countries in Central America and the Caribbean currently use sargassum barriers, however, Mexico faces the greatest impact in the Caribbean with more than 800 kilometers of coastline affected.
Pennie explained that the coast of Quintana Roo is the most impacted due to its location perpendicular to the main flow of the macroalgae. Despite this, Mexico leads in the development of knowledge and technologies of sargassum compared to other nations in the region, he added.
“We are in the most perpendicular position to the main flow of sargassum which makes us the most impacted country, although we are also the ones with the most knowledge and development on this issue,” Pennie said.
The state of Quintana Roo is currently working on turning sargassum into a renewal resource with the construction of its first Comprehensive Sanitation and Circular Economy Center. Once built, the state will transform sargassum into a sustainable economic opportunity to provide long-term sustainable solutions.
