Sargassum Sweeps In, Isla Mujeres Sweeps It Out

On the night of Sunday, July 14, Isla Mujeres faced an unusually large influx of sargassum drifting into the lagoon in front of Mia and reaching Playa Norte, the island’s popular and iconic beach.

This year Mexico’s Caribbean coast, including the Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum, has been heavily affected by sargassum. While sargassum arrivals are not new to the area in the summer, this week brought a large volume to the island’s white sand and clear waters. Thanks to quick action, the beach was cleared rapidly to keep it clean and usable.

Early Monday morning, Mayor Atenea Gómez Ricalde organized a swift response, rallying over 130 people from various municipal departments. The ZOFEMAT team, public workers, and committed island volunteers worked relentlessly to manage the sudden influx. Together, they removed an estimated 140 tons of sargassum from the waters near Mia at Playa Norte on Monday morning. They continued clearing more with additional arrivals on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

Later that same night, a second wave of sargassum arrived. Again, the community responded without hesitation. Local residents, workers, volunteers, and municipal teams came out with wheelbarrows, rakes, buckets, baskets, and trucks. They worked late into the night and into the next morning to ensure the beach and sea remained clean and welcoming.

Sargassum is a floating brown seaweed commonly found in the Sargasso Sea, a special area of the North Atlantic Ocean where ocean currents trap thick mats of this seaweed. While sargassum often drifts far offshore, sometimes large amounts travel to Caribbean shores of Mexico.

The cleanup was a true team effort with residents, volunteers, municipal workers, and Mayor Atenea Gómez Ricalde all working side by side. Their combined dedication and hard work ensured the beaches were cleared quickly and the island’s natural beauty remained intact.

This quick and collective effort reflects the spirit of Isla Mujeres, a community that works together to protect its natural surroundings, and popular beaches.

To everyone who stepped up, thank you. Your work helps keep Isla Mujeres the paradise that so many people love.

Credit for photos from Isla Mujeres events and celebrations - Atenea Gómez Ricalde - Facebook

Thank you for the hard work of Mayor Atenea Gómez Ricalde and her team at the Municipality of Isla Mujeres for providing us with photos and information so that we can invite you and keep you up to date with current events on the island. Thank you as well to the president, ZOFEMAT crew, volunteers, and the whole team that cleared the sargassum.