A video capturing a foreigner taking sea snails from the sea in Cancun, despite the presence of a lifeguard, has sparked a wave of reactions on social media.
The video, shared by a Mexican named Mike, shows a man on the seashore holding a pair of snails. A lifeguard nearby watches a woman swimming, who also has a snail in her hand. The foreigner then walks to the beach and throws the marine material into the sand, planning to collect the snails and shells.
Mike sought help from a National Guard (GN) officer, who informed the foreigner that taking snails was prohibited. Despite this, the foreigner waited for the officer to leave and took three snails. The officer also reprimanded the lifeguard for not intervening.
Mike managed to retrieve one of the three snails and returned it to the sea. “I was able to take one from him, although he wanted to take three, and we are going to take it where it belongs,” he said.
Removing snails and shells from the sea can harm marine ecosystems. Snails are part of the food chain and serve as food for various species. Shells provide shelters for organisms like hermit crabs and serve as substrates for algae and coral growth. They also help prevent beach erosion by maintaining the sand structure. Their removal can destabilize this balance, making coasts more vulnerable to storms and high tides.
In many regions, it is illegal to collect these marine species as their removal can endanger local biodiversity. This is particularly crucial in protected areas and for species at risk of extinction due to overexploitation. Conserving marine ecosystems is vital for the planet’s health, and small actions, such as not taking these elements, contribute to protecting oceans and wildlife.
Source: Infobae
