Shocking Environmental Violations by Seaweed Company in Chetumal

A seaweed company in Chetumal has been accused of fraudulent practices and non-compliance with environmental regulations. The company, tasked with collecting sargassum, a type of macroalgae, in Mahahual, has reportedly been disposing of the collected seaweed improperly. Instead of using a designated deposit site, the company has been dumping the sargassum on a path leading to the community of Xcalak, effectively turning the area into an open-air landfill.

The accusations against the company, Red Ambiental, were made public through social media. The whistleblower noted that the company's actions violated several environmental regulations, including the General Law of Ecological Balance and Environmental Protection, the Law for the Prevention, Comprehensive Management, and Economy of Solid Waste of the State of Quintana Roo, the General Health Law, and the Regulations of the National Commission against Sanitary Risk Prevention.

While the Secretary of the Navy (Semar) is officially responsible for the collection of the sargassum, it is primarily the local residents of Mahahual, including business owners and tourism promoters, who are actively working to keep the beaches clean. This is particularly important given the upcoming Easter holidays, a peak time for tourism.

Despite claims from Mahahual's mayor, Fernando Hernández Gutiérrez, that Red Ambiental has a designated deposit for the macroalgae, evidence suggests otherwise. The whistleblower observed collection trucks dumping the sargassum in a green area, creating an illegal open-air dump.

The environmental impact of this improper disposal is significant. The sargassum releases gases and other elements that seep directly into the groundwater, contaminating the sea water.

The whistleblower's report serves as a call to action for local and state authorities to ensure proper treatment and disposal of the sargassum. Without proper action, the efforts of the Mahahual community to maintain the cleanliness of their beaches will be in vain, as the environmental impact of the sargassum will persist.