Every year, the **sargassum**, a brown macroalgae, [invades the beaches of the Caribbean](https://noticiasambientales.com/medio-ambiente/el-sargazo-marca-un-registro-historico-en-el-atlantico-y-se-convierte-en-una-amenaza-ambiental-sin-control/), affecting tourist destinations such as **Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, and Tulum**, as well as coasts of **Florida, United States**.
While it is a **natural process**, its presence can drastically change the tourist experience, generating both **aesthetic and environmental problems**.
## The battle against sargassum in Playa del Carmen
The **Sargassum Monitoring Network of Quintana Roo** reported that the personnel of the **Zona Federal Marítimo Terrestre (Zofemat)** are working hard to mitigate its impact.
**Irving Lili Madrigal**, head of Zofemat in **Playa del Carmen**, explained that they are currently going through the **most critical phase of the season**, during which teams collect between 150 and 200 tons of sargassum per day, in shifts from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
## Why does sargassum arrive in the Caribbean?
The **sargassum** floats in the **Atlantic** and is [carried by ocean currents](https://noticiasambientales.com/residuos/rbmar-el-proyecto-que-estudia-el-impacto-de-las-basuras-marinas-en-canarias/), ending up on the Caribbean coasts.
In **2025**, its season started in **March**, intensifying in **April**, just before **Easter** vacations.
This phenomenon brings with it:
– **Foul odor**, due to the decomposition of the algae on the shore.
– **Impact on marine fauna**, altering the ecosystem’s balance.
– **Affectation to tourism**, reducing the influx of visitors.
According to the **Sargassum Study Group** of the **UNAM**, its presence usually increases between **May and August**, reaching its **peak** in these months.
## A growing problem: record sargassum in 2025
According to the **Caribbean Marine Environmental Monitoring and Climate Change Network**, led by **Esteban Amaro**, it is expected that the arrival of sargassum in **Quintana Roo** will increase by 30% compared to 2024, with around 23 to 25 million tons advancing towards the Mexican Caribbean.
Also, the Optical Oceanography Laboratory of the University of South Florida recorded a new **record of sargassum in the Atlantic** in April, with 40% more algae than the historical peak of June 2022.
## The most affected beaches in Quintana Roo
The **Sargassum Monitoring Network of Quintana Roo** identified areas with **excessive algae concentration**, including:
– The entire east coast of Cozumel (Punta Molas, Xhanan, El Castillo, Chen Río, San Martín, and Punta Celarain).
– Playa Arco Maya, near the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.
– Playa Punta Piedra and Xcacel-Xcacelito, near Tulum.
– Playa El Recodo, in Playa del Carmen.
– Cancun Playa Coral, near the Cancun International Airport.
## Climate change and the increase of sargassum
Since **2013**, the amount of sargassum has been increasing, driven by **environmental factors** such as:
– **Higher water temperature**, accelerating the algae’s growth.
– **Excess nutrients**, which favor its reproduction.
– **Changes in ocean currents**, like the **surada**, which redistributes the algae towards the Caribbean.
## How to address this crisis?
Experts recommend **comprehensive management plans**, combining:
– **Monitoring and prevention**, to detect its advance.
– **Efficient removal**, avoiding accumulations on the beaches.
– **Reuse of sargassum**, exploring industrial or agricultural uses.
The challenge remains to ensure that tourism and ecosystems can **coexist with this phenomenon**, protecting the **Mexican Caribbean** and its iconic beaches.
*Cover photo: El País*
