Key facts
- Mexico is developing a plan to convert sargassum seaweed into biofuel and other commercial products.
- The Caribbean coast faces daily influxes of up to 9,000 tons of sargassum, costing $2 billion annually.
- A new Sargassum Centre is planned for Quintana Roo to develop technologies for sargassum biodigestion.
- Mexico is collaborating with Japan on ocean monitoring and specialized equipment for sargassum management.
- Researchers are investigating sargassum's potential for use in fertilizers, building materials, and bioplastics.
Mexico is intensifying efforts to address the persistent problem of sargassum seaweed inundating its Caribbean coast, a crisis that has severely impacted its vital tourism industry for the past 15 years. The government, under President Claudia Sheinbaum, has launched a $115 million initiative aimed at capturing the seaweed at sea and exploring its potential for commercial use, particularly as biofuel.
Each day, up to 9,000 tons of sargassum wash ashore, creating unpleasant odors, hindering beach access, and costing the region approximately $2 billion annually, equivalent to 11% of local GDP. To combat this, Mexico's navy will deploy ships and install containment barriers to trap the seaweed before it reaches popular tourist destinations like Cancun and Tulum. Current daily collection capacity stands at nearly 2,200 metric tonnes, with plans to increase this to 4,000 tonnes by 2027.
Mexico is also collaborating with Japan, which will provide advanced ocean-monitoring technology, robotics, and sensors. Beyond cleanup, a significant focus is on transforming the sargassum into valuable products. Researchers are investigating its potential for conversion into fertilizers, building materials, soap, and bioplastics. A dedicated Sargassum Centre is slated to open in Quintana Roo in July 2025, financed by a Dutch consortium, to develop biodigestion technologies for producing biomethane from sargassum and organic waste.
Studies by the Inter-American Development Bank and the Mexican Institute for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Research are assessing sargassum's economic viability, while institutions like the Technological Institute of Santo Domingo are developing methods to extract energy and separate harmful elements like arsenic. The chemical composition of the seaweed also suggests potential as an agricultural input. This shift aims to turn an environmental burden into an economic opportunity.