Magdalena Island, Baja California Sur — Environmental personnel were able to retrieve two hydrocarbon containers that fell from a vessel. Both barrels were collected from the sea without a spill.
According to the Federal Attorney’s Office for Environmental Protection (Profepa), inspectors, in coordination with Conanp personnel and with the logistical support of the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar) and the San Carlos Port Captaincy, extracted two 1,000-liter containers.
The barrels of hydrocarbon were located in Magdalena Bay near the community of Magdalena Island in Baja California Sur earlier this month and collected from the sea after reports of a possible spill.
“In response to a report from the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (Conanp) regarding a possible hydrocarbon spill in the coastal area and the Federal Maritime-Terrestrial Zone (Zofemat), an operation was carried out in the area. Two 1,000-liter containers were located partially submerged on the shoreline, with no visible evidence of an active leak or spill,” the Agency reported.
According to the July 17 report, on July 3, a boat carrying diesel capsized in Magdalena Bay, an ecosystem of high ecological and fishing value in the region. On July 4, maritime access was gained to the site where two plastic containers with a capacity of approximately 1,000 liters each were identified, containing diesel.
“Both were found partially submerged along the shoreline with no visible leak or active spill. During the visual inspection, no fuel stains, iridescence in the water, wildlife mortality, or obvious impact on halophytic vegetation or the adjacent coastal ecosystem were detected,” they explained.
The institutions secured and moved both containers to a safe area within the navigation channel where Semar personnel recovered them and brought them aboard the vessel Escobedo.
Magdalena Bay is part of a strategic ecosystem for marine and coastal biodiversity in the northwest region of the country. The presence of hydrocarbons poses a significant environmental risk, especially due to its potential toxic effect on birds, marine mammals, fish, and riparian vegetation.
While no immediate environmental impacts were detected during this action, Profepa will continue preventive surveillance and monitoring of the site, especially during high tides, to rule out the possible presence of oily residues or delayed contamination.
Likewise, Profepa will urge the competent authorities to promote a review of the operating and safety conditions of vessels transporting fuel within protected natural areas and coastal zones of high ecological sensitivity.
Profepa will monitor this event in coordination with CONANP, Semar, and the Harbor Master’s Office to ensure proper handling of the recovered fuel and prevent future incidents in the area.
In addition, the possibility of requesting the operator or person responsible for maritime fuel transport to submit a technical report and/or remedial measures will be assessed if damage or subsequent risks associated with the incident are identified.
