The Tres Palos Lagoon, in the Diamante area of Acapulco, has been going through a critical situation in recent weeks due to an unusual death of aquatic fauna that has set off alarm bells among riverside communities and local authorities.
According to residents and producers of the area, The mortality is attributed to pollution and possible residual discharges, a problem that has become recurrent and has now reached a magnitude that affects families, the economy and ecological balance.
What's happening in the lagoon
Neighbors and fishermen report the death of more than a dozen species, including sea bass, snapper, mullet, shrimp, tilapia, carp and cuatete, with floating bodies and a penetrating smell that prevents normal work in the water.
The first official explanations point to the fact that The water temperature would have climbed to 34 ºC, above the tolerable range of 28–30°C, which reduces available oxygen and causes suffocating conditions for fish and crustaceans. To better understand how this type of pollution affects ecosystems, you can consult the impact of toxic algae on the coasts.
At the same time, those who fish in the lagoon assure that They had already been detecting a smell of fuel in the captures, which is why they decided to suspend its consumption and sale as a precaution against possible contamination of the water body.
Economic and social impact
The crisis hits the local economy hard: Some 7.500 families depend directly on fishing. and around 15.000 do so indirectly, so the income of the entire chain has been seriously compromised.
Producers and aquaculturists calculate losses amounting to several million pesos, in a context where operating costs remain stable, but the usable supply has plummeted due to mortality. To learn more about the reduction in species diversity, visit how many species exist in the world.
In the fishing village of Plan de los Amates, The loss of 550 farm cages is reported and nearly four months of work has been affected, forcing many to seek alternative income to support their families.
Faced with this situation, cooperatives and community leaders have requested support and urgent measures that will allow the reactivation of activity, guarantee product safety and restore confidence in the market.
Causes under investigation and background
Among the local hypotheses, the following stand out: the discharge of wastewater from housing developments near the lagoon, a recurring warning whenever pollution episodes worsen. To better understand the risks of this type of activity, consult the impact of Asian algae on the coasts.
The authorities, for their part, have highlighted the effect of extreme heat and the resulting decrease in dissolved oxygen as a triggering factor, without ruling out interactions with other sources of environmental stress. For more information on how climate change affects these processes, visit climate change and sea turtles.
Specialists have been warning for years about the loss of mangroves, the presence of heavy metals such as lead and cadmium, fecal and chemical pollution, as well as uncontrolled urbanization on the margins of the ecosystem, conditions that aggravate the lagoon's vulnerability to extreme events.
What those affected are asking for and next steps
Organizations in the area demand a comprehensive and immediate assessment of water quality, with continuous monitoring of critical parameters and public results that guide evidence-based decisions. Pollutant analysis in the lagoon could benefit from integrated management strategies present in other affected areas, such as those described in the impact of mining and pollution in the Amazon.
In the medium term, they ask restore mangroves, strengthen wastewater treatment and firmly regulate new urban developments to prevent further discharges and seal illegal dumping sites.
The Tres Palos Lagoon runs through an episode that combines ecological damage and social crisisCoordination between authorities, experts, and communities will be key to halting mortality, protecting livelihoods, and laying the foundation for lasting ecosystem recovery.