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Navy collects over 10,400 tons of sargassum from seven municipalities

Cancun, Q.R. — The Secretariat of the Navy of Mexico has reported the collection of just over 10,400 tons of sargassum from along state shores. In a statement, the agency said that the sargassum was collected at-sea using their vessels, and that as of May 23, the 10,462 tons was collected from seven municipalities.

The collection of the seaweed at sea is an effort between private and state initiatives within the framework of the Government of Mexico’s strategy to contain the arriving seaweed before it lands on beaches.

Seaweed that does make it to shore is removed manually. Although mesh nets have been installed along the coast, there is always some amount that breaches the barriers, especially during high winds, landing on beach areas that then require cleaning.

The agency says that they have vessels deployed around the municipalities which are used to monitor sargassum at sea and which are manned by more than 300 navel personnel to help support its collection.

The manned beaches include the municipalities of Isla Mujeres, Benito Juárez (Cancun), Puerto Morelos, Cozumel, Solidaridad (Playa del Carmen), Tulum and Othón P. Blanco (Chetumal). The municipalities are also outfitted with more than 9,300 linear meters of containment barriers.

This week, the barriers at Playa del Carmen and Tulum are undergoing maintenance after they were observed with structural deterioration. While in maintenance, navy vessel Natans will reinforce surveillance along those coastal areas.