Massive Seaweed Alert in Quintana Roo – What You Need to Know

Despite the discovery of a massive seaweed patch weighing over 7,000 tons in the Caribbean Sea, the Navy Department (Semar) forecasts a moderate likelihood of seaweed stranding in the south and central parts of Quintana Roo, with a lower probability in the northern beaches.

Semar's latest report, which monitors ocean current behavior, predicts a seaweed stranding of 69 to 55 tons in Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos, and Cozumel within the next 24 hours. Additionally, 17 tons are expected in Mahahual and Sian Ka’an, with another 17 tons predicted for Xcalak.

The Quintana Roo Seaweed Monitoring Network forecasts that the Mexican Caribbean coasts will receive between 200,000 and 300,000 tons of seaweed in 2024.

In the first four months of this year alone, the Navy has reported collecting 950 tons of seaweed as part of their Strategy for Attention to this phenomenon in the Mexican Caribbean.

To combat this issue, approximately 8,600 anti-seaweed barriers have been installed on various beaches in Quintana Roo. Additionally, eight amphibious bands and a federal staff of 850 people have been deployed to handle the task of collecting the seaweed that washes up on the beaches.