Tulum, Q.R. — The municipality of Tulum collected just over 1,200 tons of sargassum in 2024, a significant decrease from last year. Juan Antonio Garza, the Municipal Director of the Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone (Zofemat), says as of the end of October, 1,278 tons was removed from Tulum beaches.
During 2023, more than 4,000 tons of the seaweed was hauled away from municipal beach areas, he said.
“Fortunately this year, we have had an atypical landing of sargassum. It has been less than in previous years so we are doing well, nature has treated us very well, it has been kind this year,” said Antonio Garza.
Antonio Garza pointed out that Tulum beaches were kept free of sargassum by more than 50 municipal workers who were assigned to its removal. Every day, he says Zofemat’s work team cleared beaches in the Tulum National Park, Punta Piedra and Akumal.
“This work, which ranges from the collection of the sargassum to its final proper disposal, has been essential to preserve the beauty and biodiversity of these tourist and ecological areas,” he said.
He explained that despite the decrease in sargassum, local authorities continue to monitor and manage it in coordination with other government agencies.
In November, the Government of Quintana Roo officially declared the 2024 sargassum season finished with a total of 37,000 tons collected from beaches around the entire state, making it one of the lowest collection figures in years.
