What’s up with the buoys that popped up in Akumal Bay. You may have noticed the red and yellow bobbers on webcam, or posted in social media, or with your own eyes. You can imagine the discussion, guesses, and rumors floating around – they are keeping out the sargasso, they’re controlling the number of snorkelers in the bay, or they’re part of a plan to privatize the beach.
The fact is that the Captain of the Port designed and designated the buoy system that now appears in Akumal Bay, as well as in other public areas in the Riviera Maya. It’s part of a program called Playa Seguro, Safe Beach in English, that the Federal Government has funded to organize the navigational safety of the 33 vessels that are licensed and allowed in this area. It also allows channeling for the safety of the swimmers and snorkelers. You may remember the signage published last year (shown here) that is the guideline that business owners and concession holders agreed upon to help manage boat and public safety in Akumal Bay. This year the Port Captain, who is the official Government authority, made the final decision and presented it to business owners as a way to promote the safety of the public and the environment.
The next step is to form a committee of all users, meaning dive shops and boat owners, to provide for buoy maintenance, since the government doesn’t take care of it. The committee will also explore possible sanctions for misuse of the system.
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