The Mexican government is weighing a regional initiative to convert sargassum into aviation biofuel, in partnership with Central American and Caribbean nations. The plan involves creating a multinational company that would tackle a common environmental challenge while helping airlines meet international targets to cut emissions, reports Noticias Ambientales.
Under guidelines from the International Civil Aviation Organization, airlines must begin decarbonizing operations in 2027. Officials see sargassum as a promising raw material for sustainable aviation fuel, part of Mexico’s push toward a circular and low-carbon economy. The initiative is being driven by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat).
Currently, sustainable aviation fuel costs more than triple the price of conventional jet fuel. To close that gap, the state-owned Airports and Auxiliary Services (ASA) has announced a multimillion-dollar expansion of its Cancun plant, which produces biofuel from waste oil and could eventually process sargassum.
The plan would turn one of the Caribbean’s most troublesome macroalgae into an energy source. Each year, massive quantities of sargassum blanket beaches across the region, harming ecosystems, damaging tourism, and creating health risks.
Experts, however, caution that fuel production alone will not solve the problem. They argue that broader policies are needed, including safer collection methods, more research into the algae’s life cycle, and strategies that balance environmental protection with the well-being of coastal communities.
In Quintana Roo, sargassum has already disrupted marine habitats, killing fish, turtles, and corals by blocking oxygen in the water and releasing toxins as it decomposes. Its buildup also threatens human health, as workers who manually clear beaches face exposure to harmful gases.
Tourism, the state’s economic lifeline, is heavily impacted as hotels and local authorities spend millions each season on beach cleanup. The worsening influx of sargassum, fueled by climate change and ocean pollution, has led to repeated calls for a national emergency declaration to ensure federal resources and coordinated action.
Without structural measures, experts warn, the growing tide of sargassum will continue to place severe pressure on ecosystems and coastal communities.
