Isla Mujeres, Q.R. — Around 130 people cleared 140 tons of sargassum from Playa Norte Monday. Brigades began the collection task at 5:00 a.m. and by mid-afternoon, had managed to clear both the water and the beach.
According to Isla Mujeres Mayor Atenea Gómez Ricalde, the most recent inundation of the seaweed is not normal but was dealt with as soon as it arrived. She said “Zofemat Isla Mujeres promptly responded to an unusual stranding of more than 140 tons of sargassum in the Playa Norte area.”
The seaweed arrived overnight and left the island’s popular beach covered. At the break of daylight, crews were out scooping the sargassum from the water and forking it off the sand.
Dayana Pérez Medina, the Director of Zofemat Isla Mujeres, reported that the more than 140 tons of sargassum arrived in the area known as El Riíto in Playa Norte. Following the mayor’s instructions, more than 130 people from her department were immediately activated.
They were also joined by personnel from various areas of the City Council, including Public Services, General Services, Economic Development and Tourism, Social Development and the Isla Mujeres DIF (National Development Agency).
“Since 5 a.m. our Zofemat warriors have been on the front lines removing sargassum so that tourists and island families can enjoy the clean, beautiful and tidy beaches of Isla Mujeres,” Pérez Medina emphasized.
She added that sargassum doesn’t occur every day or on every beach, but when it reaches the beaches of Isla Mujeres, action is taken immediately as one of the Mayor’s main tasks is to maintain its unparalleled beauty, as it is one of the destination’s main tourist attractions.
Pérez Medina reported that so far this season, more than 1,334 tons of sargassum has been removed in the municipality. With these actions, the Municipal Government reaffirms its commitment to joining the National Strategy against Sargassum.
