Riviera Maya, Q.R. — Strong winds have delayed the installation of anti-sargassum barriers along the Quintana Roo coast. However, with the improvement of the weather, authorities will resume installation ahead of the arrival of sargassum.
The Directorate of the Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone (Zofemat) of Playa del Carmen, Irving Rafael Lili Madrigal, said strong winds have slowed the installation progress.
“Unfortunately due to the weather, the waves, the southerly and northern winds, the swells are preventing us from working with the Navy on installation, however, we are planning to finish the first stage before March 15,” he said.
On Friday, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (Sema), Óscar Rébora, says 6,600 meters of seaweed barriers have been installed at strategic points off the coast. To date, the coastal area of Mahahual, Puerto Morelos and Playa del Carmen have installed barriers.
According to Rébora, an additional 7,500 meters of barriers were acquired at the end of 2025. Those additional meters of sargassum barriers are being distributed across six coastal municipalities.
He says due to the early arrival of sargassum, beach cleaning will intensify a with equipment starting in March. The operation will utilize brigades of workers hired by the state government to serve Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos, Tulum, Cozumel and Isla Mujeres.
The work includes manual and mechanical collection, beach cleaning, and transport of the seaweed to authorized sites.
Rébora explained that in coordination with the federal government, the state is promoting the Comprehensive Center for Circular Economy (CISEC), which is making significant progress in developing the engineering designs for the comprehensive solution.
The project aims to produce clean energy from sargassum collected at sea and is expected to be operational in the second half of 2026. Additionally, the declaration of the Circular Economy Development Hub for Well-being (PODECIBI) is projected for March.
This industrial park covers 38 hectares in Puerto Morelos with industrial and commercial land use, and will function as a connection center. There, both the private sector and academia will process sargassum to generate new products.
