The oceans are the great lung of our planet, they absorb the greatest amount of CO2 and at the same time, they are the largest producers of oxygen, so they are a fundamental component for the climate. However, excess CO2 in the atmosphere is leading to the acidification of the oceans, with serious consequences for the cycles of marine life and their environmental functions, in addition to the bleaching of corals.
Corals are abundant with marine species and are the incubation and breeding ground for many species. They are the oases of the warm seas. In Cozumel you can find the second largest coral barrier in the world, which is affected by different human activities that accelerate its degradation: cruise ships, mass tourism, deforestation of mangroves, pollution of groundwater tables and CO2 emissions. The local people of Cozumel and the scientific community face a race against its destruction.
Yásnaya Aguilar and Gael García Bernal
Hotel Playa Azul, Mónica Donnadieu, Coral Hero, Oceana, Corales Vivos Cozumel, Pescadores y prestadores de servicios ecoturísticos de Mar de las Antillas, Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative, Arturo Lerma, Carlo Romero