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Great News! The regional office of PROFEPA has come under new leadership and now intends to lift the temporary injunction (a.k.a. “Clausura”) that’s been preventing EcoProteccion Akumal (EPA) from deploying a sargassum barrier in Half Moon Bay. PROFEPA arrived at this position after reviewing a report from marine scientists dispatched by the Mexican Dept. of Justice to inspect the barrier installation zone for signs of environmental damage. These experts reported ZERO EVIDENCE that the barrier is harmful to the reef in Half Moon Bay or to local populations of nesting turtles…..as was falsely claimed in legal actions initiated by a few uninformed neighbors.
Although the bureaucratic procedures for lifting an injunction are lengthy and complicated, EPA has come to an understanding with PROFEPA that allows barrier deployment on an emergency basis before the “Clausura” is officially lifted. So the HMB Sargassum Project is pleased to announce that:
1) Barrier deployment plans have been submitted to SEMARNAT and are beginning this week under the supervision of EPA Project Manager, Ivan Penie.
2) Most beachfront property owners are committed to managing their beach concession according to the guidelines below. They’re already starting to remove the excess sargassum that’s piled up due to unexpected delays in barrier deployment. They will continue following these guidelines throughout the Sargassum Season: Best Practices in Managing Beached Sargassum
We’re able to deploy the barrier quickly thanks to three business sponsors and generous neighbors from the wider community who’ve joined 15 properties in the High Impact Zone (HIZ) to cover the EPA’s entire 2024 budget for barrier operations. (See P.S. below for a full list of project supporters.)
The US Environmental Protection Agency has sounded the alarm over the damage that results from Sargassum Inundation Events (SIEs). And, unfortunately, 2024 is projected to be the worst sargassum season on record. On Half Moon Bay, things have been made even worse by a delay in barrier deployment due to the legal shenanigans of a few ill-informed neighbors.
Akumal Norte needs an effective and economical sargassum mitigation plan now more than ever; a plan the entire community can get behind! In fact, we’ve decided to address a couple of the most common misconceptions people have about sargassum mitigation and the role of the barrier in the hopes that by directly dispelling these ideas we can garner wider support for the much needed HMB Sargassum Project: Sargassum Mitigation Misconceptions
Even if you don’t own beachfront property that’s directly impacted by SIEs, we urge you to review this overview of sargassum management so you better understand why sargassum mitigation is so important to protecting the reef and other marine life in Half Moon Bay. And if you’d like to show solidarity with your neighbors in the HIZ who’ve been so harmed by the irresponsible legal actions of their neighbors, please consider using this link to make a direct tax deductible contribution to the HMB Sargassum Project: DONATE TODAY !!
Thank you for considering the need for a comprehensive sargassum mitigation plan on Half Moon Bay. And if you have any questions about barrier deployment or about the importance of DAILY beach cleaning, please contact any one of our team members at the numbers below.
Sincerely,
The HMB Sargassum Project Team
<hmbsargassumproject@gmail.com>
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Marieke Brown (La Tortuga)
+52(984) 105-8475
Steve Hamilton (Playa Blanca)
+1(303) 884-5961
Alex Malison (Casa Fortuna)
+1(202) 905-6100
Arturo Orozco (Casa Orozco)
+52(906) 866-3000
Liane Perry (La Bahía)
+1(603) 930-4135
Ron Stern (Villa de los Sueños)
+1(949) 678-9102
Peter Swenson (Mi Casa del Mar)
+1(303) 903-6234
Lisa Wilson (Casa Fortuna)
+1(202) 905-6103