Dear Dear Neighbor,
EcoProteccion Akumal (EPA), the Mexican non-profit that manages the HMB Sargassum Barrier is temporarily removing the barrier. Under the leadership of Project Manager, Ivan Penie, the removal process is being coordinated between four teams deployed both on land and at sea. Team members include boat skippers, sailors, divers, local snorkel guides and marine specialists, with extensive knowledge of Akumal's coastal marine ecosystem.
As this is the first time the barrier is to be removed, the main goal of the exercise is to test, fine-tune and document the real-world removal procedures that must be followed under emergency weather conditions as well as at the end of the sargassum season. Now is a good time to conduct these exercises because the sargassum forecast on the SaWS website is relatively light and extreme weather conditions are forecast in the coming weeks.
As detailed on the Updates Page of the HMB Sargassum Project website, EPA is prepared to deploy the barrier again as soon as may be warranted by the sargassum forecast.
Please feel free to contact any of us with questions.
