Tourism and clean-up teams struggle as sargassum influx Quintana Roo beaches drives 28 sites to red alert, with 1,465.54 tons removed in May and a 40% rise expected in June.
Sargassum, a brown macroalga that forms expansive mats in nutrient-rich Atlantic waters, has plagued the Caribbean coast since 2011. It arrives in seasonal pulses, often peaking in summer months when warm currents carry thick patches to shore. Tourists and local businesses rely on clear beaches to draw visitors, but this year’s influx has proven overwhelming. As of May 28, authorities classified 28 of the 100 monitored beaches in Quintana Roo under a red alert, signaling excessive sargassum levels. Esteban Amaro, director of the State Sargassum Monitoring Network, warned that the count will rise further in early June. The seasonal surge threatens shoreline ecosystems and the region’s tourism-driven economy.
The state uses a traffic-light system to gauge sargassum levels. A red warning means an excessive influx that exceeds thresholds for visual and physical obstruction. Orange indicates abundant landings, yellow marks moderate presence, green shows low accumulation, and blue denotes clear beaches. In the northern zone of Quintana Roo today, 32 beaches carry an orange alert, 15 show moderate levels with yellow, 20 record low landings under green, and only five beaches report no sargassum—blue status. Officials update the status daily on the Sargassum Monitoring website, so residents and visitors can plan accordingly.
Clean-up teams log daily operations under the Collected Sargassum Monitoring System (SIMSAR). Crews deploy boats fitted with collection nets offshore and use manual rakes on land. Workers haul seaweed into trucks, then move it to temporary storage sites or inland composting areas. They work from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week, but relentless arrivals outpace removal. In May alone, SIMSAR recorded 1,465.54 tons of sargassum collected from coastal and marine sites. “We cover large areas, but resources fall short,” Amaro said. He called for extra equipment, more trained staff, and expanded disposal sites to manage the growing challenge.
Regional impacts vary. Cozumel registered the worst conditions: half of its 24 monitored beaches—all on the eastern, open-sea shore—now carry red alerts. Six beaches in Tulum hit red status, forcing warning signs at popular tourist spots. Playa del Carmen sees two beaches in red and 14 in orange. Puerto Morelos counts five red beaches, and Benito Juárez logs three under red alerts. Nearby zones display a mix of orange and yellow flags as the algae moves along the coast. Local authorities placed fences and posted health advisories to protect swimmers from decaying algae, which can release foul odors and skin irritants.
Visitors seeking clean sands can still find relief at five blue-status beaches: Isla Contoy, the Holbox ferry dock, Punta Mosquitos, Cabo Catoche, and Chiquilá. These sites reported zero sargassum landings. These remote locations draw fewer crowds, and local vendors offer limited services, so visitors should bring water, shade, and snacks. Tour operators praise the clear shores but warn of limited capacity as more travelers hunt sargassum-free spots. Local guides advise early bookings and flexible itineraries, since conditions can shift overnight.
On a municipal level, Tulum leads in removal volume. SIMSAR recorded 1,222.94 tons collected within Tulum’s jurisdiction in May, reflecting both heavy landings and vigorous clean-up. Benito Juárez followed with 296.8 tons. Cozumel and other municipalities reported smaller tallies, but all saw upward trends. Officials report the collected biomass sometimes stacks at storage centers, raising concerns about odors and mosquitoes. Some communities now explore converting sargassum into fertilizer or biofuel to address disposal challenges.
The Sargassum Monitoring platform combines NASA satellite data, ocean current models, and wind forecasts from the Mexican National Weather Service to track algae mats as they drift westward from the central Atlantic. Currents and trade winds push patches toward Quintana Roo, following routes from Chetumal to Cabo Catoche. The platform’s seven-day outlook shows a steady march of sargassum belts, signaling continued arrivals. Coastal managers rely on these forecasts to deploy crews and alert communities up to a week in advance.
Looking ahead, Amaro predicts a sharp rise in June arrivals. He estimated a more than 40 percent jump compared with recorded May volumes, driven by seasonal highs and remote belt growth. He urged tourists to check daily beach status online and urged authorities to boost clean-up capacity. He also called on tourism operators to stage alternative activities, like cenote visits or cultural tours, until beaches clear. “We must act now, or summer could overwhelm our coast,” he said. With peak season approaching, stakeholders hope combined data, forecasts, and reinforced crews will keep Quintana Roo’s beaches open and welcoming.
