Diagnostic and Foresight Study on the Use of Sargassum with a Triple Impact Approach and the Potential of Regenerative Tourism in Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Context & Challenges

At Mayma, we believe every challenge is an opportunity to transform our relationship with the environment. In Quintana Roo, México, massive sargassum arrivals have become a major issue—threatening marine biodiversity and severely impacting the local economy. According to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), between 2016 and 2019 this phenomenon caused an estimated 11% drop in the region’s GDP..

In light of this, we identified a unique opportunity: to analyze the sargassum phenomenon and its implications for environmental, economic, and social regeneration, seeking innovative, sustainable solutions to mitigate its effects and turn it into a valuable resource.

Our Initiative

With the support of the Visa Foundation, we developed Phase 1 of “Regenerating Blue Communities: Driving Business Solutions Beyond Sustainability in the Coastal Socio-Ecosystem of Quintana Roo, Mexico.”

This project focused on:

Mapping key stakeholders, initiatives, challenges, and opportunities related to sargassum and its impact on coastal communities.
Assessing the potential for transformative interventions in the tourism sector to foster regenerative economic development.
Publishing a report consolidating insights and building a foundation for future strategic actions.

During this first phase, we engaged over 100 key stakeholders from sectors linked to sargassum and tourism through interviews, working groups, field visits, and a closing event held at the Cancun Planetarium..

This event brought together representatives from government, tourism associations, hotel groups, and innovative startups, who emphasized the potential of sargassum as a raw material for bioplastics and biofertilizers.We also explored community-based tourism as a key pathway to protect and regenerate coastal and marine biodiversity..

This initial phase marked the beginning of a path toward concrete, scalable solutions that turn an environmental challenge into an opportunity for sustainable development in Quintana Roo’s coastal communities.

We were honored to feature internationally renowned speakers, such as en Haggard, Anna Pollock, and Sidney Cano, who shared cutting-edge insights and global experiences in regenerative economic development and tourism..

Their contributions were essential to deepening the understanding of the challenges facing the Mexican Caribbean and identifying opportunities to transform the region through regenerative models that integrate environmental conservation, tourism, and sustainable economic development.

Watch the Speakers' Presentations

Project Team

Ana Webb is a biologist and holds a Master’s degree in Aquaculture from the Universidad Católica del Norte (Chile), with over 17 years of experience in sustainable aquaculture in Chile and Argentina. Raised in Patagonia, her connection to the sector began in childhood. She is a sustainability consultant, B Corp ambassador, and advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ana supports entrepreneurs and communities in their pursuit of triple impact, with a focus on environmental education and water stewardship.

Olmo is a biologist with a Master’s in Marine Sciences from UNAM. He arrived in Tulum in 1998 and chose to dedicate his life to conserving local ecosystems and communities. In 2009, he received the award for Best Postgraduate Thesis in Science and Technology Research in the state of Quintana Roo. During his academic training, he was a CONACYT Excellence Program fellow, traveling across several continents and participating in major research and conservation projects—always focused on environmental protection in the region.

Joel is an oceanologist and professional diver, based in Cancún since 2015, specializing in the issue of sargassum. He has participated in the implementation of solutions such as containment barriers. He currently works as an Independent Advisor on projects related to sargassum. He serves as Director of the Containment Systems Commission within the Sargassum Working Group at EIMAS. He contributes technical proposals for a more efficient and sustainable approach to sargassum management in the region.

Mariella is a historian with a Master’s degree in Social Responsibility Management, born in Lima into a family connected to spearfishing. Inspired by her parents, she began working on social impact projects at the age of 18. She served as a social specialist in programs led by the Peruvian government and the World Bank. Today, as an independent consultant, she continues working with fishing communities and sharing her hands-on knowledge throughout Latin America.

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