Dear Neighbor:

We are reaching out with updates on the Sargassum project:

• We have changed / expanded membership of the Sargassum Committee to ensure we have enough members to manage each separate initiative.  Members and their assignments are detailed on the signature line below.

• After negotiations with multiple providers, the Sargassum Committee has narrowed our choices down to two providers with commercially proven barriers already in place in Q.R.  (ECE/Desmi and Inmar/Okeanis)
  Both are now preparing more detailed bids that offer improved egress for turtle hatchlings and that will come in at approximately $100,000 LESS than we originally budgeted!

• Our committee is also revising the budget to; 

• More accurately reflect newly negotiated installation costs

(to be funded by stakeholders from the entire community of North Akumal.)

• Provide greater detail on annual maintenance expenses
  (to be borne solely by property owners in the High Impact Zone on the HMB beachfront.)   

Our most exciting news is that with pledges nearing $400,000 USD, we are now investing in Phase 2 of the project, which includes:
 

• Setting up a US corporation to manage the incoming contributions and related accounting. 
   

• Setting up a Mexican corporation to seek “emergency approval” for the project from SEMARNAT as well as to manage barrier operations.
  (Because the government has declared the sargasso infestation to be a national emergency, standard permit requirements have been waived.  In an effort to streamline the implementation of sargasso mitigation efforts like ours, the government now requires only the submission of a formal report to SEMARNAT and other government agencies detailing the technical specifications and other details about the project.)

We expect both corporations to be up and running soon and will let you know as soon as they’re both operational.  

In the meantime, please visit our website to learn more about the project:

https://www.hmbsargassumproject.com/

If you have not pledged yet, we hope you will join the many other stakeholders in the North Akumal community who have already pledged support for this important project.  A non-binding pledge (in any amount affordable to you) is a terrific way to show your support for the community of North Akumal and DOES NOT commit you to making an actual contribution until we have commitments to cover our entire budget:

Please Pledge Your Support TODAY!

Thank you!

The Sargassum Committee

hmbsargassumproject@gmail.com

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Michael Alison  (Playa Blanca)

US Corp. Sub-Committee 

Marieke Brown (La Tortuga)

Communications and Mexican Corp. Sub-Committees

Steve Hamilton (Playa Blanca)

US Corp. Sub-Committee 

Alex Malison (Casa Fortuna)

Technical Oversight & Mexican Corp. Sub-Committees 

Liane Perry (La Bahia)

Communications & Condo Sub-Committees

Terry Richardson (Casa Alux)

Environmental Oversight Sub-Committee

Ron Stern (Playa Caribe)

Technical Oversight Sub-Committee

Amy Wall (Luna Azul)

Communications & Condo Sub-Committees

Lisa Wilson (Casa Fortuna)

Environmental Oversight & Communication Sub-Committees