Mexico Navy Will Install Over 30 Miles Of Sargassum Barriers In Cancun & Riviera Maya

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For over a decade, travelers heading to the Mexican Caribbean have had to play a highly frustrating guessing game with sargassum—the smelly, brown seaweed that washes ashore and frequently ruins the pristine white-sand beach experience. This year, the seaweed bloom has been breaking historical records, causing significant headaches for both travelers and the local tourism industry.

According to environmental officials, up to 9,000 tons of sargassum are currently arriving every single day on the shores of Quintana Roo, the state home to tourism powerhouses like Cancun, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen. That massive figure is four times the amount that washed ashore daily last year, and a staggering 27 times the historical daily average.

However, a massive new $115 million initiative announced this week by the Mexican government aims to finally get the ongoing problem under control, just in time to save the upcoming fall and winter travel seasons. At the center of this historic effort is a massive naval deployment designed to catch the seaweed miles out at sea before it ever reaches the beaches.

Creating a 30-Mile Coastal Shield

To physically block the seaweed from reaching the shore, the Mexican Navy is deploying over 30 miles (48 kilometers) of specialized containment barriers along the coastline.

These floating nets sit just off the coast and act as a primary line of defense. As the ocean currents push the sargassum toward the resort zones, the barriers effectively trap the floating masses. From there, the Navy is deploying a fleet of smaller, agile vessels that tow specialized nets along the barrier lines to scoop up the accumulated seaweed and haul it away before it can breach the perimeter.

The Giant “Floating Garages”

The most impressive and technologically advanced part of the new strategy involves two massive, 60-meter ships. These modified roll-on/roll-off vessels—which are usually used as floating garages to transport cars across the ocean—have been completely transformed into giant seaweed-eating machines.

The Mexican Navy has outfitted the front of these ships with a continuous conveyor belt system. As the ships cruise through the open ocean, the belts dip deep into the water and pull the seaweed directly into the cargo hold, functioning much like an endless industrial chain. These ships are incredibly efficient and are capable of collecting an astonishing three tons of sargassum every single minute.

One of these massive ships, which can hold up to 200 tons of seaweed at a time, is already actively patrolling the Caribbean waters. A second, even larger vessel with a massive 700-ton capacity is currently en route from the Pacific coast. It is waiting to cross the Panama Canal and is expected to join the Caribbean fleet within a month.

What This Means For Your Vacation

If you have a trip booked for the Riviera Maya, this sweeping naval strategy is the best news you could ask for.

Currently, resorts are spending astronomical amounts of money and manpower trying to clear the beaches manually. In some major all-inclusive zones, it takes nearly 200 workers operating in 24-hour shifts just to keep the sand clear of the daily avalanche. When sargassum piles up and bakes in the hot tropical sun, it begins to decompose, releasing a sulfur-like smell that forces travelers away from the water and can cause a cloudy “brown tide” that drastically lowers water quality.

By shifting the battle out into the deep ocean, the government is drastically reducing the amount of seaweed that actually makes landfall. Coupled with the deployment of over 300 soldiers and heavy machinery to assist the local resorts with any seaweed that slips through the offshore nets, the beaches of Cancun and the Riviera Maya are about to look a lot more like the postcards you expect.

Search your hotel on our live Cancun sargassum webcams to check real-time beach conditions right outside your resort in seconds.

How To Pivot On A Heavy Sargassum Day

Even with the Navy’s best efforts, nature can sometimes overwhelm the barriers during a storm or a shift in the prevailing winds. If you wake up on your vacation and find that a wave of sargassum has temporarily covered your resort’s beachfront, do not let it ruin your day. The Mexican Caribbean offers incredible alternatives to keep your vacation on track.

• Reserve A Chair At The Pool: You do not need the ocean to have an incredible aquatic experience. Over the last few years, Cancun and the Riviera Maya resorts have invested heavily in multi-tiered, amazing pool areas to combat the seaweed issue. Many properties now feature massive infinity pools, swim-up bars, lazy rivers, and luxury cabanas that overlook the ocean, giving you the spectacular views without having to step foot in the seaweed. Head down early to secure a prime lounger.
• Visit A Freshwater Cenote: If you want to swim in crystal-clear natural water, leave the coast and head into the jungle. The Yucatan Peninsula is famous for its cenotes—stunning natural limestone sinkholes filled with cool, fresh groundwater. Because they are located inland, cenotes are 100 percent immune to sargassum and offer a magical, jungle-draped swimming experience that you cannot find anywhere else on earth.

• Take A Day Trip To The Islands: Sargassum is driven by ocean currents that primarily strike the east-facing coasts. If the mainland beaches in Cancun or Playa del Carmen are overwhelmed, take a quick ferry ride over to Isla Mujeres or Cozumel. The west-facing beaches on these islands (such as Playa Norte on Isla Mujeres) are naturally shielded from the incoming seaweed and almost always boast perfectly clear, turquoise water, no matter what is happening on the mainland.

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