Overview

• On August 7, the Agriculture Secretariat’s decree reclassified sargassum as a fishery resource, setting a 945,000-tonne annual dry utilization limit and mandating adapted harvesting vessels.
• On August 11, Implementaciones Estratégicas Marinas inaugurated a Yucatán plant capable of producing 500 million liters of fertilizer per month, three tonnes of animal feed daily and biogas from collected seaweed.
• UNAM and University of South Florida researchers confirm 2025 as the worst sargassum bloom on record with over 38 million tonnes offshore and projections of more than 80,000 tonnes washing ashore in Quintana Roo by year-end.
• Persistent coastal strandings are inflicting daily tourism-sector losses of 1.2 million pesos and driving hotel occupancy in Tulum down to 5–10 percent.
• Authorities and scientists warn that large-scale offshore collection poses monitoring challenges, bycatch risks and potential ecosystem impacts even as it underpins emerging circular-economy opportunities.