On Friday, April 7, 2017, SEMARNAT (the federal environment agency) re-issued permits for “snorkel with turtles” to service providers, lifting the temporary suspension on snorkel with turtles activities, yet no infrastructure or plan is in place to ensure compliance with the permits.
The authorities have not been forthcoming or timely in their communications or transparent with their plans for Akumal Bay. As such, this is what we know so far and are simply sharing the information. The following information has been released by the authorities to date:
REGARDING PERMITS FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS
(Only service providers with permits issued by SEMARNAT can conduct “snorkel with turtles” tours.)
Tours are to be conducted in two different “circuits” with a specific time frame for each circuit.
Each service provider has been issued a permit for a maximum of 6 people in circuit 1 and a maximum of 6 for circuit 2.
Each service provider can conduct tours with a maximum of 6 people at one time with an authorized guide.
Each group must be 10 meters away from the next group.
Tours are to be conducted between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The following poster was provided by CONANP in relation to the commercial tours in Akumal Bay at the time the suspension was lifted.
In addition, the following information has been posted on CONANP´s social media and website.
Unfortunately, the lack of specific details or details that address all users of Akumal Bay beyond tour groups, has caused more questions, some of which, include:
Who are the providers with official permits?
Unknown. Unclear at this time.
Information has not been provided or made public by SEMARNAT or PROFEPA
Are any of the cooperatives operating on the street into Akumal authorized? Do they have an official government-authorized identification?
Unknown. Unclear at this time.
Information has not been provided by authorities.
Are independent tourists/guests of Akumal required to take a tour?
Unknown. Unclear at this time.
Information has not been provided by authorities.
Part of these “unknown” questions relates to the fact that Akumal Bay and areas extending into the Refuge for Protected Species do not have a comprehensive management or protection plan.
With the suspension of snorkel with turtles activities lifted and without a plan in place, Akumal Bay is back to its previous “lawless” and vulnerable state before the suspension was implemented.
However, there is a “draft” program plan which is currently in the process of public consultation and can be viewed (in Spanish) online on the COFEMER website:
The document will be open for comment and feedback for a total period of 20 days after which it will go through the next governmental phases before implementation. How long before the plan comes into effect, is anyone’s guess.
At this point of time, this is all the information we have. As any additional information is received or provided by authorities, we will be sure to share.
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