The Secretariat of the Navy reported that all beaches affected by the hydrocarbon spill in the Gulf of Mexico are clean and ready for tourists during Holy Week. Authorities attribute the contamination mainly to seepages in the Cantarell field and an illegal discharge from a ship on March 3 off Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz. They maintain surveillance over 600 km of coastline and are investigating 13 suspicious vessels.
Raymundo Pedro Morales Ángeles, head of the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar), stated that “all the major tourist beaches are clean, the public can have confidence to visit these beaches, especially during Holy Week.” The agency maintains overflights and personnel deployed along 600 kilometers of Gulf of Mexico coastline to contain any hydrocarbons and prevent environmental damage.
The spill originates from three sources: an illegal discharge by a ship on March 3 in the Coatzacoalcos anchorage, Veracruz; a seepage five miles away; and another 60 miles from the Cantarell field in Campeche. The seepages, natural hydrocarbon emissions, have been the main source, with increased flow detected in the last month, spreading over more than 200 km of coasts in Veracruz, Tabasco, and Tamaulipas due to winds and currents.
Thirteen vessels present in the area are under investigation: four still in Mexican waters are being inspected by the Navy, and international cooperation is requested for the nine in international waters. So far, 430 tons of hydrocarbons have been collected and 223 km of beach cleaned.
Alicia Bárcena, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, said the Agency for Safety, Energy and Environment is filing complaints with the General Prosecutor's Office and assessing damage to the Veracruz reef park, ruling out severity for now. Profepa treated six affected animals (three turtles and three birds), now released. Pemex hired 300 locals for cleanup and supports fishermen with 15 million pesos and 10,000 liters of fuel.
