In order to control the arrival of sargassum, the Government of Carlos Joaquín designed a model of comprehensive care – known as sea ecological barriers – to contain the algae and prevent their arrival at beaches in tourist destinations such as Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Mahahual, Tulum and Puerto Morelos. These barriers have withdrawn more than 213,000 cubic meters of sargassum and waste from the coastline in 7 municipalities.
Historically, there is no excessive arrival of brown macro algae during the winter season in Quintana Roo. The sargassum season takes place from April to August, however, in 2018 the season extended to September, and the arrival of seaweed is expected to continue during October and November (maybe even December).
“The governor’s indication is to continue applying the strategy”, said the secretary of Ecology and Environment Alfredo Arellano Guillermo.
(Photo: laverdadnoticias.com)
Permanent monitoring of this phenomenon is maintained, largely due to the global warming that is now having consequences at regional level. Between September and October, 2,000 linear meters of sargassum containment barriers were placed in strategic areas off the coasts of Puerto Morelos, Tulum, Othon P. Blanco and Solidaridad.
To contribute to the immediate, planned, effective and sustainable attention of this process, committees were integrated with the participation of scientific specialists in the field, business sector, civil society and municipal authorities.
The situation has generated a collective culture of sargassum control dynamics, through talks and conferences in educational centers, organizations, media and social networks.
The integral management of brown algae, involves different types of equipment such as machinery, anti-sargassum barriers, backhoes for harvesting, dump trucks, equipment for sucking sargassum into the sea and sweepers to clean-up the shoreline.
A total of 228 people work in this operation. More than 12 ,000 volunteers have joined through the United for Quintana Roo group and organized civil society.
RMT Newsroom with information from laverdadnoticias.com
