Cozumel, Quintana Roo — Environmentalists and local residents are calling for tighter surveillance of Cozumel’s reef zones, warning that jet skis arriving from other municipalities pose a growing risk to the island’s marine ecosystems.
Oceanologist Adrián Villegas said the personal watercraft are entering protected natural areas, and he questioned the lack of oversight and enforcement of the rules that govern nautical activities inside the Cozumel Reefs National Park.
According to those raising the alarm, jet skis traveling at high speed and the noise they generate can alter conditions in the marine environment. A fuel spill, they added, would be another risk factor for the reefs and the species that live there.
Call for Federal Action
The group asked federal authorities responsible for environmental and maritime surveillance to step in, and urged a review of the rules that permit or restrict such activities within the protected natural area.
They also proposed stricter controls on the entry and movement of jet skis in vulnerable zones, along with stepped-up patrols to confirm that nautical activities comply with regulations and to prevent damage to the reef ecosystems.
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