Thoughts on the Refuge for Protected Marine Species
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back?
On February 15, 2017, in a very unusual act, PROFEPA intervened, closing Akumal Bay to ALL activity. No one, absolutely no one, was allowed even to attempt to swim in the bay. This amazed everyone including people from Akumal, hotels, established and irregular tour operators, the state government and even other federal agencies who had not been previously notified.
Why did the authorities decide to proceed in this way? A poor argument was given by the Attorney of the Federal Protection Agency. However, for the first time in a year since the "Refuge Area for the Protection of Marine Species" was decreed, there was representation of the law in Akumal. Was the presence of the marines and PROFEPA inspectors on the beach only for the benefit of creating a media sideshow and visible proof that they were working (despite coming on the year anniversary of the decree)?
Although this measure lasted a couple of weeks, it provided hope to those claiming a drastic measure like this was needed. But the show wasn't over. In fact, this was just the beginning.
Just after the closure of the bay last year, the swim-with-turtles permits were issued not only to the previous permission holders (5 in 2015 and 22 in 2016) but now increased to more than 30 different actors including established regular tour operators living in Akumal for more than 30 years and different individuals and cooperatives---most of them of newly created. The permits outlined the new requirements: 12 people per day divided into two groups to use the two "circuits." In addition, no activity is permitted on Mondays or for the month of September.
Again, the arguments to explain such measures were poor. Certainly, the decisions were not based on science. If there was true legitimate concern for protecting the bay, why were additional permits granted, thereby increasing the number of turtle tours and tour participants? Where were the results of the "load capacity" study showing just what is the reasonable amount of people/day that could justify the increase in the number of permits? Or, how could the authorities revoke the suspension and declare the bay had recovered without any scientific evidence backing this statement? Was it mere coincidence that the suspension was lifted just in time for Semana Santa (one of the busiest times of year)?
As the suspension was lifted, PROFEPA organized exclusively among the cooperatives the creation of the so-called "community Inspectors" for surveillance of the bay. Yet, the formal rules (Protection Program) of the Refuge area were not officially published. How could a group ensure rules were being followed when there were no such finalized rules?
In a very short time the "community inspectors" were top-trending topics on TripAdvisor, social media threads and other national and international media for being rude, aggressive, threatening and lacking manners. They represented themselves as an authority despite not having criteria what the rules were to enforce, and even "persuaded" tourists, under the guise of being an authority, that it was required to hire their service for turtle tours.
Many people were disappointed with these community inspectors and asked the authorities for a more inclusive and fair solution. Besides such disarray everyone was claiming their willingness to contribute with a more ordered activity.
In September of last year there was no swimming with turtle activity based on what the permits mandated. This matched perfectly with the low tourist season, although hotel room occupancy in this period of the year is becoming higher than in previous years for Akumal, maintaining rates of up to 80%.
Despite the no-turtle-tour activity permitted for the month, there were still daily infractions and irregularities in the bay, illegal fishing, violations and attacks to the assets of Akumal---all due to the lack of presence by the authorities in charge.
For the second year in a row, February 2018 is also a no-swimming-with-turtles month. However, so far the bay remains busy with tours and chaos. It is evident that infractions to the permits and irregularities take place every day.
How can it be possible to overcome such crisis? Well, the authorities seemed to have found the solution ... at least they believed so.
During October of last year the state government along with the federal and municipal authorities, convened all the local actors to a meeting to form a Committee for the Sustainability of Akumal, which consisted mainly in offering a viable solution to give order to all the commercial activities in the bay. Many of us agreed to participate in the committee with the hope of sharing and exchanging all the available information for a final solution to such an old problem. Again, everyone was claiming willingness to contribute with a more ordered activity.
Everything seemed to go smoothly for the first two meetings. At the same time, the authorities, led by the Secretary of Ecology and Environment (SEMA), worked on an alternative project for the creation of the Turtle Museum where all cooperatives (especially those with no beach concession or infrastructure) would have a fixed place to offer their services.
The preliminary design of the center included a reception area, lobby, restaurants, a parking lot, and a box office where tourists could pay a fixed and fair fee for the services. The design featured plenty of green space, a nature path with look-out towers and a small cinema.
There would be a place for other sellers of other alternative commercial activities different to those of swimming with turtles with the aim to diversify the activities in and out of Akumal Bay. The center would be placed in a one-hectare area of government land on the western side of the federal highway next to Akumal Pueblo, where the tourists would be taken to the different places they paid for. The vision of the operation would be similar to Tulum´s archeological site center. Not only would the center be a stunning hub for commercial activity, it would also provide additional employment opportunities---staff would be needed for the restaurant, ticket wickets, cleaning, maintenance, parking attendants, etc. In an ideal world this sounds terrific.
