Holbox, Q.R. — With an investment of 4.8 million peso, Holbox is earmarked for an artificial reef project to reduce pressure on fishing areas.
The project, which has been approved by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) for the Cabo Catoche Cooperative Society, says they seek to introduce 1,198 concrete structures to form several coral colonies.
For Holbox and Chiquilá, in addition to tourism, fishing represents the main economic activity. Officials are hoping that with the introduction of an artificial reef system, it will increase the presence of marine organisms, which would also help reproduction and development in that area, which they say, translates into an increase in economic income from tourist activities such as snorkeling, diving and boat activities to hotel occupancy and consumption in local restaurants.
The Cooperativa Cabo Catoche will see the structures sunk at an estimated depth of 12 meters with 1,198 reinforced concrete modules arranged in groups of 113 of varying distances. The project includes placing the structures to favor the colonization of corals as well as trying to double or triple the production of Caribbean lobster.
