Puerto Morelos is taking new steps to protect its famous coastline.

The town has approved funding for beach-protection and sargassum-management work, intended to reduce sargassum accumulation and support longer-term beach recovery.

The funds come from the town's environmental sanitation trust, supported by a fee paid by visitors staying in the area.

Mayor Blanca Merari Tziu Muñoz said the projects are a big step in preserving the town's beaches and sea.

Battling the Brown Tide

Puerto Morelos is expanding funding for offshore sargassum-containment barriers, which act like a fence to stop seaweed before it reaches the sand.

The town coordinates with the Mexican Navy, municipal crews, hotels, and other partners on barrier deployment, offshore collection, and daily cleanup.

Restoring the Shoreline

The second major project is a long-term plan to recover the town's beaches.

The new Executive Project for Beach Recovery will begin by addressing the most damaged areas.

It is part of a broader Quintana Roo coastal-recovery effort that is looking beyond adding sand to nature-based solutions, including rebuilding dunes and restoring coral reefs.

Funding for the Future

The Environmental Sanitation Fee finances municipal environmental projects, including beach cleaning and related coastal work.

In 2025, the fund provided nearly 31 million pesos for municipal projects.

Puerto Morelos is also exploring ways to turn collected sargassum into useful products such as biofuel and fertilizer, with a processing center planned for the town.