Riviera Maya, Q.R. — The Ministry of the Navy, responsible for at-sea sargassum collection, says they have intensified efforts. Efforts are being increased through the Sargassum Response Strategy Coordinator to combat the massive arrival of sargassum in the Mexican Caribbean.
Additional collection efforts by state and municipal governments, as well as volunteers, have resulted in significant progress in controlling and collecting the macroalgae.
“As relevant results during 2025, Operation Sargassum has shown positive cumulative results in the containment, collection and final disposal of sargassum, significantly reducing its impact in key coastal areas,” they reported.
For sargassum collection, the Navy has deployed a total of 13 maritime units, including sargassum harvesting vessels, smaller boats and containment barriers that have allowed sargassum to be collected in open sea before it reaches beaches. As of June 5, nine units were deployed.
In coordination with municipal authorities, ongoing cleanup work has been carried out on beach and coastal areas, ensuring cleaner environments for the local population and tourists.
The Navy said regarding the deployment of sargassum barriers, 7,545 meters have been installed, strategically distributed with 2,310 meters in Puerto Morelos, 2,580 meters in Playa del Carmen, 390 meters in Tulum and 2,265 meters in Mahahual.
Likewise, the sargassum monitoring bulletins provide an estimate of the amount that is about to reach the Mexican Caribbean coast, with an estimated total of 77 tons in four different locations.
So far in 2025, the total accumulated amount of sargassum across the seven ports in the state of Quintana Roo has been approximately 4,236.26 tons. This total has accumulated 266,043 tons since 2019.
The success of Operation Sargassum 2025 has been possible thanks to close coordination between the Secretary of State for the Environment and state and municipal governments, as well as the active participation of organized volunteers.
This synergy, they said, has been essential for the effective deployment of resources, operational surveillance and the implementation of preventive and reactive strategies in response to the arrival of sargassum.
The Navy reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding national maritime interests, including protecting the marine environment and nautical tourism, maintaining an efficient and professional operation to protect our coasts and support the communities that depend on tourism and the region’s ecological balance.
On Saturday, Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama announced a new comprehensive strategy focused on the early collection of sargassum from the sea. During a working group led by the state government, in coordination with the Navy, the deployment of the Stella Natan, 22 smaller vessels and 11 sargassum traps has been confirmed.
Governor Lezama said that sargassum is a natural phenomenon with unpredictable behavior determined by factors such as ocean currents, wind and nutrients present in the sea.
Currently, more than 500 Navy personnel are operating in shallow and deep waters to intercept sargassum before it reaches the coast.
As part of the long-term actions, Lezama announced the development of a specialized plant for the treatment of sargassum, a project supported by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, which will be reviewed with the head of the agency, Alicia Bárcena, during her upcoming visit to the state in mid-June.
