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However there is really not too much to celebrate. In the mid-20th century scientists were optimistic in thinking that the oceans were so vast that any kind of contamination would become diluted in its immensity.
Today we know they were wrong.
It was during the '60s that the Torrey Canyon and Santa Barbara oil tankers sank and triggered global attention to, and media coverage of, the oceans.
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Sadly, the surprise of industry wastes, adding mercury and black tides, revealed that we have just a few decades left to prevent the silent death of the coral reef and thousands of species all over the world are about to disappear.
In 1972 the United Nations signed the London Treaty, where although it did not forbid marine contamination, it did establish a list of substances, such as radioactive wastes and compounds like cyanide, that can’t be thrown into the sea. The signers of the treaty also made a "gray list," including substances that may be controlled by each country's regulations.
The treaty in 1972 never mentioned pipes that spew toxic substances into the sea; it applied only to merchant ships.
It has been more than 30 years since those days and the black tides still are causing degradations in the oceans around the world. We have caused great stress on the ocean and its marine life and now, with the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, we are going to witness the death of more marine life than we can imagine. This is not a “spill” that can be cleaned up with a paper towel, it is a massive eruption of toxic oil, and requires greater seriousness on the part of governments. While the oil makes its way around the Gulf, into the Caribbean and out into the North Atlantic, some decision makers are still defending old practices, concepts that separate us from the marine world, from the planet. One positive thing that may come out of this disaster is the change of consciousness that is needed if we are to survive on this planet as a species and with a future quality of life. The way we see, think of and use oceans, soils, freshwater, forests and biodiversity must change. We can never “go back”; however, we can decide today to have a different future, to respect our oceans, to clean up our lifestyles that contaminate it so. A collective conscience can take us from thought to action but it must happen now.
David Medina /
Paul Sánchez-Navarro
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| Sea turtle Nesting Season |
The sea turtle nesting season has started, so we invite you to read our recommendations at www.ceakumal.org. Contact us for further information at info@ceakumal.org.
Hotels and Condominiums: Help us by changing the lights facing the beach areas to amber or red-colored bulbs. Otherwise modify the direction of your lights toward the inside of the property since the lights disorient the turtles. |
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Ask your personnel or security guards to remove objects (beach chairs, floats, kayaks, etc.) from the beach, as they may obstruct the path of the turtles climbing up to lay their eggs. Please ask your guests not to make excessive noise at night from 23:00 to 05:00 hrs. during the nesting season. Thank you! |
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Time is passing by and it is time to act. Reduce global warming -Unplug your electronics while you are not using them.
• Half Moon Bay -- 10 loggerhead nests
• Akumal Bay -- 3 loggerhead nests
• Jade Beach -- 10 loggerhead nests
• South Akumal -- 0 nests |
According to the Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, some scientists have determined that loggerhead turtles' reproduction can be affected by sea surface temperature. In Akumal, we are facing a lower loggerhead turtle nesting season than usual. Probably higher temperatures are starting to modify nesting seasons. We hope that climate change does not start affecting turtle reproduction because this scientist said that sex determination and hatching success in sea turtles depend on temperature. "Warmer sand temperatures may skew sea turtle populations' sex ratios towards predominantly females and decrease hatching success." For more on this topic, you can read this PDF document: or these articles: Mazaris, A.D., Kallimanis, A.S., Tzanopoulos, J., Sgardelis, S.P., and Pantis, J.D. "Sea surface temperature variations in core foraging grounds drive nesting trends and phenology of loggerhead turtles in the Mediterranean Sea" Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 379(1-2): 23-27, 2009; and M.M.P.B., Hamann, M., and Limpus, C.J. "Past, current and future thermal profiles of green turtle nesting grounds: Implications from climate change" Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 383(1): 56-64, 2010. |
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| Good Actions to Celebrate World Environment Day -- Every Day! |
Following these simple words, you can make a difference:
Reduce, Reuse, Restore!
Reduce: Separating recyclables can reduce 85% of our trash. Don't waste water; make sure faucets are turned off. To avoid water contamination, reduce to as little as possible releasing into the ground cleaning solvents, chemicals, cigarettes, or sanitary napkins. |
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Reuse: Capture rainwater or the shower, for use in the garden. Water bottles, paper and glass, can be used more than one time.
Restore: After cooking, do not pour oil into the sink; separate it as well as the organics. Protect trees, forests and jungles to prevent soil erosion and sedimentation. The use of biodegradable or natural products such as vinegar to clean your house will make a big difference.
In Akumal: Use biodegradable sun blocks. Do not leave trash on the beach; pick up trash you find even if it's not yours.
Avoid plastic bags while shopping and instead get fashionable, reusable bags at the Super Chomak market. Help the environment and CEA's Conservation Programs: bags cost $20 & $25 pesos. Thanks, Hotel Club Akumal Caribe, Super Chomak and Laura Bush! |
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| Recycling Program---Be Part of the Solution! |
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We are picking up recyclables in North Akumal, Jade Bay, South Akumal and Aventuras Akumal. We still have not decided a pick-up site in Aventuras and South Akumal. For North Akumal we are going from house to house (or condo to condo).
Monday & Friday: North Akumal, Half Moon Bay and Bahía Principe
Tuesday & Saturday: Aventuras Akumal, Las Villas Akumal and South Akumal
Thursday & Sunday: Akumal Pueblo |
These are some of the people who have already joined us; thank you all:
Villa Italiano -
Casa el Charalito -
U-Nah-Kin -
Villa de las Palmas -
Casa Salvaje
Casa de los Cañones -
Casa Tranquilidad -
Casa tahg-Kumal -
Playa Paraiso -
Villa Flamingos
Casa Balam Ek -
Vista del Mar-Buena Vida -
Akumal Pueblo.
There is a monthly fee for the pick-up of all recyclable materials. The cost is 12 USD for homes (one house or villa, plus a casita) and 5 USD per unit for condos (any building with more than 3 condos).
For further information, contact Mauricio Bautista at recicla@ceakumal.org. |
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| Lionfish threaten our reefs |
Lionfish continue to threaten our reef system. We invite all certified divers to join in our catch campaign. For training and more information, please contact David Placencia at arrecife@ceakumal.org. |
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For more information about the following events, please e-mail the contacts:
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October 17 & 18 -- Special Training Opportunity on the Mexican Caribbean. Juniper GIS, in cooperation with two conservation organizations doing significant work along the Mexican Caribbean coast, will be offering one-week GIS classes with a focus on conservation applications for only $750. These classes will focus on beginning and intermediate GIS skills for those who want to learn and/or enhance their GIS skills, and you will also get to work with and help local conservation groups. Juniper GIS is partnering with Amigos de Sian Ka'an and Centro Ecológico Akumal. Both groups will be planning field trips to nearby conservation sites and/or Maya ruins where you can practice GIS and GPS skills, and get an inside look into the work of these organizations. info@ceakumal.org
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