Cancun, Riviera Maya, Q.R. — Although the flow of sargassum to state beaches remains low, it has not stopped municipalities from clearing away what has been reaching shores.
According to Observatorio Ciudadano del Sargazo, 49 percent of Quintana Roo beaches have reported only low amounts of sargassum. The organization says 14 percent of the 133 monitored state beaches are sargassum-free, 27 percent have reported moderate amounts and only 12 percent reporting an abundance. None of the beaches from Cancun to Riviera Maya and Costa Maya are reporting excessive amounts of seaweed.
The municipal president of Othón P. Blanco, Othoniel Segovia Martínez, pointed out that two days of beach cleaning have already been held in Mahahual and Xcalak with the participation of hotel staff and the Mexican Navy.
Segovia Martínez says that during those two cleaning days, the sargassum was removed and transferred to designated sites and that they are working to restore the affected anti-sargassum barriers, which due to current strong winds and high waves, has pushed some of the sargassum over the barriers.
Observatorio Ciudadano del Sargazo reports that the current distribution of sargassum in Quintana Roo is mixed, with a predominantly low concentration trend. They say that Holbox, Isla Contoy, Isla Mujeres and Chetumal are currently free of sargassum and 10 of the 17 tourist destinations that make up the region, Costa Mujeres, Cancun, Playa del Carmen , Riviera Maya, Cozumel, Akumal, Tulum, Sian Ka’an, Punta Allen and Xcalak, have little sargassum on their beaches.
Meanwhile, Puerto Morelos and Mahahual have received moderate recales distributed along their beaches. Both regions have cleared away the arriving seaweed.