Four researchers from the Primary Production Laboratory of the Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav)-Mérida announced on October 26 the first changes observed, due to the recent Hurricane Milton, in Dzilam de Bravo, Yucatán, specifically in the water and flora, on which starfish, shrimp, sea cucumbers, anemones, hedgehogs, manatees, turtles, collared geese, and other species depend.
Hurricane Milton decreased the salinity and temperature of the seawater in Dzilam de Bravo. It also changed the dominant seagrass and dumped the largest amount of algae on the beaches of Dzilam since 2024, say doctors Tania Cota Lucero, Yaxiri Aguilar and Siuling Cinco, and Dr. Jorge Herrera, all researchers at Cinvestav-Mérida.
The now historic Milton skirted the coast of Yucatán, from Celestún to El Cuyo, from Monday, October 7 to Tuesday, October 8, 2024. It did so as a category 5 hurricane — with gusts of up to 350 km/h —, then 4 and again 5, according to the National Water Commission (Conagua).
The Primary Production Laboratory, coordinated by Dr. Herrera Silveira, released the preliminary report of the sampling of the seagrass beds of Dzilam de Bravo that it carried out, on Sunday, October 13, to identify the impacts Hurricane Milton caused on this ecosystem.
Dr. Tania Cota Lucero and Dr. Yaxiri Aguilar wrote the report which says that water quality characteristics were measured and seagrass biomass samples were taken, both those that made landfall on the beach and those that resisted the hurricane in the water.
In addition, the fauna associated with seagrass meadows was filmed. Drone flights (multispectral, thermal, and RGB) were carried out to estimate cover changes.
This information will allow us to evaluate the effects of Hurricane Milton on the coast of Yucatán.
Some results already obtained from the sampling on October 13, compared to the previous sampling, on August 24, are the following:
The predominant seagrass species changed: in August, it was Syringodium filiform (manatee grass), and in October, Halodule wrightii (shallow grass).
Patches of senescent seagrass beds covered by macroalgae were observed.
The abundance of biomass that washed up on the beach was significantly greater than the August sampling and is the most abundant so far this year.
In this regard, the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (Conabio) reports that manatee grass is a species threatened by the change in land use, home to many species such as starfish, shrimp, cucumbers, anemones and hedgehogs, and part of the food of manatees, turtles, and collared geese.
At the same time, Conabio itself says, the shallow grass is also a threatened species and is of great importance as a substrate in the formation of communities of marine microorganisms, such as microalgae and bacteria. It is a crucial element for the balance of coastal ecosystems. The Cinvestav-Mérida researchers also indicate that this research will allow the evaluation of the resistance and resilience of this ecosystem to hydrometeorological events.
TYT Newsroom
Changes to ecosystem in the Yucatan CoastDzilam de BravoEnvironmenthurricane miltonMeridaMexicoYucatan
The Board of Directors of the Mexican Confederation of Fishing and Aquaculture Cooperatives (Conmecoop) considered it necessary to resume the program of installing satellite chips in the entity’s coastal vessels, to have more precise monitoring of their locations, which makes rescue work in case of an emergency.
José Luis Carrillo Galaz, president of that council, recalled that it has been proposed that boats have this type of technology similar to what cell phones have and that allows, via satellite, to see the location of people in real-time, in this case, would be the fishermen and their boats.
The leader of this Council, which brings together more than 500 fishing cooperatives throughout the country, explained that, even though some vessels have a GPS system and a communication radio, if the radio stops working they have no way of sending their location, which would be avoided if the installation of those chips is resumed.
“Governor Joaquín Díaz Mena has already ordered that boats have a civil band radio to avoid tragedies such as those that occurred during the recent passage of Hurricane Milton through the region in which several fishermen were surprised by the meteor,” he recalled.
“We hope that, to the extent possible, the installation of these chips will also be considered, which would be a more effective complement to take care of the lives of fishermen who dedicate themselves to coastal fishing and who are the most vulnerable to climatic conditions,” he added.
Carrillo Galaz indicated that the reality is after the passage of “Milton”, it was more than clear that it is necessary to improve the technology and safety protocols of the vessels, especially the coastal ones, and it is also necessary to review and improve the rescue protocols by the Secretary of the Navy.
“I believe that after this event, many irregularities came to light in the sector, especially in how small vessels work, which are those that do not dispatch to the Port Captaincy, deficiencies were shown where there is evident responsibility of the authorities. , but also from fellow fishermen,” he considered.
The president of that council added that the organization he represents has proposed the creation of a Committee for the Safeguarding of Human Life, to act in a more coordinated and timely manner in rescue efforts by sea and land, in which cooperatives participate, and the authorities of the Captaincy, Navy and the State Government.
TYT Newsroom