The beaches of Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Puerto Morelos are struggling to cope with a massive influx of sargassum, a type of seaweed that is causing chaos for tourists and local businesses.
María Elena Island, located in the region, is particularly affected by the invasion. “We can’t bring boats close to the pier because of the sargassum,” said Roberto Ucan, deputy delegate for the area. He warned that the situation is likely to worsen in July.
In Playa del Carmen, authorities are working to clear tons of sargassum from the beaches. Irving Lili Madrigal, a representative of the Federal Maritime-Terrestrial Zone Directorate (Zofemat), urged citizens to join in the effort and help keep the beaches clean.
Meanwhile, in Puerto Morelos, a team of 40 people is manually cleaning the beaches after collecting up to 30 tons of sargassum per day. The Navy has installed barriers that contain between 80 and 90% of the algae.
However, the invasion poses a serious threat to the environment and human health. Scientist Brian LaPointe warned that the sargassum can release toxic gases such as hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, damaging ecosystems and posing a risk to people’s health.
The influx of sargassum is also having a significant impact on local businesses, with tourism service providers in Tulum warning that the current low season is shaping up to be one of the worst in decades. Alejandro Torres, a local tour guide, said that the decline in visitor numbers and business closures are not exclusive to Tulum, but rather affect several destinations in Quintana Roo.
“This is the worst season we’ve seen in many years,” he said. “Businesses are closing, and tourist arrivals are minimal, both domestic and international.”
Source: Reportur
