Sargassum washups decline on the Riviera Maya
Along the Riviera Maya coast in Mexico’s Quintana Roo state, the amount of sargassum has decreased, while beaches are gradually regaining their natural appearance and turquoise water color. This was reported by Mexico News Daily.
David Buchanan García, head of the Federal Maritime-Terrestrial Zone in Tulum, said local beaches have begun to recover after 5,600 tonnes of seaweed were cleared in recent months. Despite the decline in washups, his crews will continue cleaning the coast, as new accumulations of macroalgae are possible.
The worst season on record
According to Quintana Roo’s Environment Ministry, 2026 became the worst year for sargassum volumes on the Riviera Maya. From April to August, 124,852 tonnes of seaweed were removed from the state’s coast — 29,069 tonnes more than during the same period in 2025.
In Cancún alone, 29,482 tonnes of sargassum were collected this year. By comparison, 16,000 tonnes were removed in the city during all of 2025. Playa Delfines was one of the areas requiring the most work.
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Significant volumes of cleared macroalgae were also reported in Playa del Carmen. The source next lists Cancún, Puerto Morelos, Tulum and Mahahual by volume.
Seasonal decline in washups
Arturo Quintero Díaz, head of the Municipal Services Department of the Benito Juárez municipality in Cancún, called the current decline in washups a typical phase of the sargassum cycle. According to him, the amount of seaweed fluctuates and gradually declines from August to October.
At the same time, Esteban Amaro Mauricio, head of the Quintana Roo Sargassum Monitoring Network, told La Jornada that seaweed washups are expected to be minimal in November and December. In his assessment, a new increase could begin as early as January 2027, although the season usually becomes active in April or May. A similar early appearance of sargassum was observed at the beginning of 2026.
