Playa del Carmen, Mexico — Authorities in Playa del Carmen have reported the collection of approximately 1,700 tons of sargassum along the city’s coastline, a figure that closely mirrors that of the previous year. The sargassum, a brown macroalgae that regularly washes ashore in the Mexican Caribbean, has once again become a prominent issue during the spring and summer months.
According to Samanta Álvarez, Secretary of the Environment for Playa del Carmen, the current season is on par with 2024 in terms of seaweed volume. “In terms of numbers, we are practically at the same level as last year. We are collecting approximately 1,700 tons. The previous administration reported around 1,500 tons during the same period. There hasn’t been a significant change,” Álvarez stated.
The sargassum season typically spans from spring through October, coinciding with the warmer waters of the Caribbean, which promote the growth and proliferation of this type of algae.
Latest Photos from Playa del Carmen (Source: FB Reporting Group)
Latest Sargassum Distribution Map (Source: Red de Monitoreo del Sargazo de Quintana Roo)
Sargassum Seaweed Surges in 2025
The Caribbean region is currently grappling with an unprecedented surge in sargassum seaweed, marking 2025 as a potentially record-setting year for these algal blooms.
According to the University of South Florida’s Optical Oceanography Lab, sargassum levels in the tropical Atlantic have reached new historical records for March, with substantial increases observed across all monitored regions. This proliferation is attributed to factors such as climate variability and alterations in oceanic currents, which have created favorable conditions for sargassum growth.
The excessive accumulation of this seaweed is causing significant environmental and economic challenges, including detrimental effects on marine ecosystems, adverse impacts on tourism, and health concerns due to the emission of noxious gases from decomposing biomass.
Coastal communities are intensifying their mitigation efforts; for instance, in Tulum, Mexico, over 50 personnel have been dedicated to daily sargassum removal, with expectations of increased influxes during the peak season from May to November. The severity of the current situation underscores the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to manage and utilize sargassum effectively, transforming this environmental challenge into potential opportunities for sustainable development.