2024-04-30 00:16:42
Almost a year after allowing its reopening, the Isla Mujeres Turtle Farm, in Quintana Roo, – recognized as the first turtle hospital in Mexico – continues in legal procedures to be fully enabled as before; that is, as a research and dissemination center, as well as a tourist attraction, due to the long paperwork and the delay in obtaining documentation from the federal government, acknowledged Gisela Maldonado Saldaña, vice president of the Caribbean Turtle Group.
In 2023, thanks to a Destination Agreementwhich is an instrument that allows public institutions to use and exploit maritime-terrestrial areas, access to the turtle center was allowed, but only to staff from the island city council and the caretakers of the more than 10 reptiles that live there.
“The city council is committed to it, it is very interested in the rehabilitation of the place, but since it is an endangered species, it is of federal interest and it takes some time for the authority to respond.
“In addition, there is a certain delay in all the documentation that is entered because the sector hardest hit by budget cuts has been environment, So they are saturated with work and delayed in delivering resolutions and that has put us on the waiting list,” he explained.
He added that of the municipal authority has made a personal mark on the project and has even strengthened it with the protection and nesting program on the island, which is carried out adjacent to the execution of the procedures, while the Grupo Tortuguero del Caribe holds talks and training such as part of the support and advice so that it can be reactivated soon.
IN ABANDONMENT
Although he acknowledged that the conditions in which it is located are not ideal so that, if the procedures were expedited, it could open its doors to the public immediately, in fact, he estimates that it will be necessary to lower resources, perhaps from the same Federal government, for its restoration.
“Since the Tortugranja facilities have been left unattended for more than a year, we are contributing our grain of sand with the municipal authority so that everything, within the legal framework, turns out as best as possible and that it can operate again for research and conservation of the sea turtle,” said the biologist.
In September 2021, this research space closed its doors after the collaboration agreement with the National Fisheries Institute (Inapesca) for irregularities in the sea turtle protection program and which was reported by volunteers who worked on the property, for failing to comply with the recommendations on the management of the species.
The accusations resulted in the municipal administration at that time deciding to close it, after it was announced that an audit would be carried out on the income generated for five years, and handing over the Tortugranja at Inapesca.
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2024-04-30 00:16:42