Nichupté Lagoon: Authorities begin removal of abandoned vessels in Cancún

Authorities in Cancún have launched a coordinated environmental operation to remove approximately 50 abandoned vessels from the Nichupté Lagoon System. In the initial phase of the project, 14 boats—ranging from jet skis to vessels up to 45 feet in length—were successfully extracted from the water.

The operation is a joint effort involving the Ayuntamiento de Benito Juárez, the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (CONANP), the Mexican Navy, and the Quintana Roo Nautical Associates (ANQR). The initiative aims to mitigate environmental risks posed by decaying materials such as fiberglass, plastics, metals, and fuel, which threaten the biodiversity of this Ramsar-recognized wetland.

The removal process is structured in three stages and is expected to continue through December. Extracted vessels are being transported to a municipal holding area. Officials noted that many of these boats have been abandoned in the lagoon since various hurricanes, including Hurricane Gilberto in 1988, and the project has been in development for several years to address both ecological damage and the area's visual impact.