Bacalar, Q.R. — The Senate of the Republic has urged the General Coordination of Ports and Marine Merchants and the Integral Port Administration of Quintana Roo (Apiqroo) to update navigation regulations for the Laguna de Bacalar.
Senator Ricardo Velázquez Meza, who made the proposal, has pointed out that an update would prevent the arrival of “foreign companies” as well as heighten security. A record number of vessels has been recorded operating on the Laguna de los Siete Colores system, increasing the risk of accidents.
The call proposed by Velázquez also includes a request for an official Port Captaincy with territorial jurisdiction in the Bacalar Lagoon System. He said that in recent times, the lack of regulation has caused outbreaks of violence due to the arrival of foreign companies, referring to the company from Cozumel.
He has also requestd that Semar, Apiqroo and the General Coordination of Ports and Merchant Marines coordinate to ensure that regulations on speed, schedules and docking are respected by users.
He says problems on the lagoon have been growing since 2014 when the area started to become a popular tourist destination. Before, there were only 50 vessels operating, but now, he says, there are more than 600.
