Yucatán Red Tide: Daily Beach Updates & Safety Alerts

Mérida, Yucatán — In response to the spread of red tide along the Yucatán coast, particularly between the ports of Progreso and Sisal, Governor Joaquín Díaz Mena announced the formation of the Interinstitutional Committee for Monitoring and Evaluation. Composed of scientists and authorities from various institutions, the committee aims to protect public health and mitigate further damage.

Urgent Measures Implemented

During his morning press conference, Díaz Mena outlined four immediate actions agreed upon by the committee:

1. A preventive health ban on all marine species in the affected area, applicable to coastal fishing up to 40 kilometers offshore.
2. Permanent health surveillance through daily water sampling and analysis.
3. Continuous committee meetings with prompt dissemination of results.
4. Deployment of informational brigades on beaches, led by the Secretary of Public Security (SSP), State Civil Protection (Procivy), Yucatán Health Secretariat (SSY), the Mexican Navy (Semar), and local municipalities.

“There will be daily meetings, and daily updates for the public. Health and safety are our priority,” Díaz Mena stated. He advised residents to avoid collecting or consuming seafood from the affected zone and to refrain from entering the ocean in those areas.

Additionally, the governor urged citizens to report any sightings of reddish or brown water elsewhere along the coast and to avoid swimming in those locations. Official channels will provide daily laboratory results and updated maps of the red tide’s spread.

Toxic Algae Species Identified

Domitilo Carballo Cámara, Undersecretary of Health Risk Protection at the SSY, reported that water tests detected two new toxic algae species—Prorocentrum lima and Pyrodinium bahamense—exceeding limits set by Mexican regulatory standards.

Carballo Cámara explained that these microalgae and phytoplankton produce potent toxins capable of causing paralysis, paresthesia, dizziness, headaches, nausea, vomiting, speech difficulties, progressive muscle weakness, and even fatal respiratory paralysis.

“Prorocentrum lima generates lipophilic toxins that directly affect the gastrointestinal tract, leading to diarrhea, pain, cramps, nausea, vomiting, and mild fever, with symptoms lasting from 30 minutes to six hours,” he detailed.

Celestún Landfill Relocation Efforts

Governor Díaz Mena also addressed ongoing efforts to relocate the Celestún landfill, a project managed by the Secretariat of Sustainable Development (SDS) in collaboration with the local government. The new sanitary landfill will be constructed in Kinchil, with budgeting currently underway.

“Once the new landfill is operational, the old site will be cleaned and the surrounding mangroves reforested. This transition will take time, as the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) issued a partial closure, allowing the mayor to manage waste disposal without disruption,” Díaz Mena clarified.

Commitment to Health and Environment

The governor emphasized his administration’s dedication to public welfare and environmental conservation, citing additional initiatives to support single mothers and university students lacking federal scholarships.

The press conference concluded with a reaffirmation of the government’s commitment to transparency and proactive measures under the Maya Renaissance governance framework.