Project of Recovery the Biological Conditions of the Production System in Saltworks of Industria Salinera de Yucatan S.A. de C.V. (ISYSA) Damaged by the Hurricane Isidore in September of 2002

Industria Salinera de Yucatan S.A. de C.V. (ISYSA) has its operation of primary production of
salt by solar evaporation in Las Coloradas, Yucatan, Mexico, in the coast the northwest of the
Yucatan Peninsula. One of the disadvantages of this location is the presence of extreme
climatologic phenomena like hurricanes, since they put in risk the stability of the lagoons of
production by the thin coastal dune strip that delimits the ocean with the evaporation ponds.
In September of 2002 the Isidore hurricane hit the coasts of Yucatan, and although the eye of
the hurricane was at 70 kilometers to the north of the coasts of Las Coloradas, the damages
that it caused to the production system were considerable. This climatologic phenomenon
opened to a channel between the sea and the area of evaporation ponds, allowing that the
force of the water intercommunicated to several ponds when losing itself the dikes. The
salinity gradients were modified as well as the microbiological component of the evaporators
when coming off itself the upper layer of benthic microorganisms with the force of the surge,
facilitating the increase of populations of microalgae Aphanothece halophytica that forms a
mucilage substance that affects the quality of brines.
One of the works was the introduction of great amounts of brine shrimp in the evaporation
ponds. The work focused in the design of a continuous culture and great production of brine
shrimp in suitable facilities to make adequately these works, as well as the culture of great
concentrations of the microalgae Dunaliella viridis like live food for the cultures of brine
shrimp. On the other hand, 18 fiber glass carboys with capacity of 800 liters each one, is
prepared with brine of the crystallizers with 25ºBe mixed with fresh water and the content of
the culture of Dunaliella viridis. The fiber glass containers that already have the concentration
adapted of brine shrimp to be introduced to the evaporation ponds previously selected.
These actions have taken to fortify the community of brine shrimp in the evaporating ponds
with intermediate and high salinity and therefore to improve the brines with total transparency
and a stability between the communities of the ponds and the diminution of the Aphanothece
halophytica in the brines.