Navy vessels resume sargassum collection off the Tulum coast

After much than six months retired of work for attraction work, 2 Navy sargassum postulation vessels are operational again disconnected the seashore of Tulum, boosting efforts to support the noxious seaweed disconnected the beaches of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.

While sargassum removal efforts proceed connected the beaches of the authorities of Quintana Roo, the Navy (Semar) vessels are designed to collect sargassum successful the unfastened oversea before it reaches the sand.

Ships similar this 1 support seaweed from reaching shore, wherever it would merchandise noxious gases arsenic it decomposes. (SEMAR/Cuartoscuro)

David Buchanan García, caput of the Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone (Zofemat) successful Tulum, confirmed that the offshore sargassum postulation vessels renewed operations a mates of weeks ago.

To amended the vessels’ efficiency, section authorities and national agencies are installing a floating dock that volition facilitate embarkation and disembarkation arsenic they load and unload the seaweed. Promoted by the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp), the task volition besides amended information successful the regular operations of the naval units.

With these efforts, authorities anticipation to marque much headway successful controlling the tourist-discouraging seaweed, which has washed ashore successful record-breaking quantities this year.

In May, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) had warned that sargassum levels would summation by 40% compared with erstwhile years. Researcher Leticia Durand Smith, from the UNAM Regional Center for Multidisciplinary Research, warned that the earthy improvement would scope unprecedented levels, surpassing the records of 2018 and 2023, erstwhile sargassum invaded beaches and reefs.

Sargassum levels presently scope from mean to excessive astatine astir Quintana Roo beaches, arsenic of Sept. 1. (Red Sargazo)

In the edifice metropolis of Cancún, for instance, officials person reported collecting astir 4 times much sargassum this twelvemonth compared to each of 2024, erstwhile 3,700 tons were collected.

“We surpassed past year’s figures since June,” said Antonio Chambé, manager of municipal nationalist services of Benito Juárez, Cancún’s municipality. “Today’s fig is historic. We’ve had ample amounts of sargassum arriving, particularly on the seashore from Delfines toward Chac Mool.”

Sargassum is simply a yellow-brown seaweed that floats successful the cardinal Atlantic Ocean for overmuch of the year, providing  food, structure and breeding grounds for assorted marine species. However, erstwhile it reaches the enactment and begins to rot, it releases toxic gases specified arsenic hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, which tin beryllium harmful to humans and the environment.

Authorities successful Quintana Roo person said that the landing play mostly ends successful November, erstwhile acold fronts begin. The “Everyone Against Sargassum” programme volition proceed until then.

With reports from La Jornada Maya and Reportur