Isla Mujeres, Q.R. — After several attempts to recover the federal building, Atenea Gómez Ricalde was denied passage Wednesday when she went to visit in person. The Isla Mujeres mayor was prevented from entering the facilities of the old Tortugranja on the island Wednesday after arriving in person.
Gómez said on several occasions she has requested meetings with authorities of the National Fisheries Institute (Inapesca) and Profepa, since it is a property belonging to the federal government, however, to date, she has not received a favorable response.
She says that it is urgent that the site be recovered before the next sea turtle nesting season begins since to date, there is no other space for the turtles.
“We cannot wait any longer. The life of the turtles is in danger, which is why we have to unite and knock on doors together, since Tortugranja is a space for environmental conservation that we have to recover in order to move forward,” Gómez said Wednesday outside the locked gates.
She says the Isla Mujeres City Council has continually donated food for the turtles since it is part of the environmental heritage of all islanders.
The site was shut without notice in September of last year after the lease Tortugranja had expired. The property was returned to the Instituto Nacional de Pesca (Inapesca).
