Cleaning Up Cancún’s Polluted Lagoon Waters

Cancún — In a decisive action to restore the most emblematic lagoon ecosystem in Cancún, environmental authorities, maritime officials, and the nautical sector have reached an agreement to remove the large quantity of abandoned and dilapidated vessels that have historically remained in the Nichupté Lagoon, contaminating its waters and damaging biodiversity.

The Secretary of Ecology and Environment, Óscar Rébora, led a coordination meeting with representatives from the Cancún Nautical Association and the Rear Admiral of the Cancún Port Captaincy. The objective is to put an end to the severe pollution generated by the accumulation of these vessels, many of which are sunk or semi-sunken.

This "marine scrap" has been a source of constant leaks of fuels, oils, and heavy metals, elements that significantly degrade water quality, affect the mangroves that serve as coastal barriers, and put the wildlife inhabiting the lagoon system at risk.

"Bringing Order to the Lagoon"

"We are bringing order to the Nichupté Lagoon. We cannot allow our bodies of water to continue being depositories for marine scrap. This coordinated work with the Port Captaincy and the nautical sector is fundamental to recovering the environmental health of the lagoon system," stated Rébora.

For his part, the Rear Admiral of the Cancún Port Captaincy reaffirmed the institution's complete collaboration. Their participation will be crucial in the process of identifying, legally assessing, and removing the vessels, ensuring that the entire operation is carried out under current maritime regulations and with the highest safety conditions.

The designed action plan involves not only state and federal agencies but also the private sector. The effort will focus on establishing a clear path for the orderly removal, adequate final disposal, and subsequent environmental restoration of the affected areas within the lagoon.