DNER sends technicians to Cabo Rojo following arrival of sargassum.

By THE STAR STAFF

Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) Secretary Waldemar Quiles Pérez announced on Thursday that personnel from the Specialized Sargassum Unit have been dispatched to Pitahaya Beach in Cabo Rojo to assess the arrival of sargassum in that area.

The specialized technical personnel will assess marine and wind conditions, collect samples of the material, and determine the necessary actions to address the latest seasonal accumulation of the seaweed.

“We have received information indicating that the sargassum event in that sector of Cabo Rojo is significant, which necessitates a visit to the area to begin the work of understanding the situation,” Quiles said.

The DNER chief noted that starting in February, it refurbished heavy equipment and vessels in preparation for the sargassum season.

The DNER acquired drones to measure sargassum patches and study mitigation methods. It also purchased two new vessels -- representing an investment of over $750,000 -- equipped with conveyor systems designed to collect the material and deposit it into a temporary holding container.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, over 40 million metric tons of sargassum were reported in the tropical Atlantic in 2025.