Mexican Navy and Quintana Roo Authorities Team Up to Combat Sargassum Invasion

The Mexican Navy, also known as Semar, is teaming up with authorities in Quintana Roo to tackle the annual arrival of sargassum seaweed on the Mexican Caribbean coast. This natural phenomenon is closely monitored by the Gulf and Caribbean Oceanographic Institute, with the support of the University of South Florida.

The sargassum season on the Quintana Roo coast typically runs from April to October, with collection efforts concluding in early November. This period also marks the time for maintenance and preparation of equipment and personnel involved in these operations.

The Sargassum Attention Strategy will be implemented on 47 of the most popular tourist beaches in Puerto Morelos, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and Mahahual. This strategy is divided into several phases.

The first phase, "preparation", involves the upkeep and preparation of infrastructure such as sargassum vessels, containment and collection methods, smaller vessels, and personnel. The second phase, "detection", includes satellite monitoring and maritime surveillance.

The third phase involves installing containment barriers and using seaweed vessels to help reduce the amount of algae that reaches the beaches. The final phase, "collection", involves gathering the sargassum in shallow waters and delivering it to the Municipal authority.