Mexico’s Environment Ministry (Semarnat) has once again paused the plans for Cozumel’s controversial fourth cruise ship dock. This comes merely two months after the project’s approval, which environmentalists have argued would harm the Villa Blanca Reef.
Environment Minister Alicia Bárcena stated that Semarnat will be undertaking a new environmental impact study. This study will specifically focus on the reef and local residents’ rights to a healthy environment. The decision comes following an injunction against the ministry’s earlier approval made on June 13.
The 511 million-peso (approximately US $24 million) project has faced significant opposition since 2021. Previous legal challenges stopped construction temporarily in February 2022.
Critics emphasize that the proposed dock could destroy coral formations, displace marine life, and degrade water quality in an area that has experienced 20 years of restoration efforts. The project is set to cover 59,000 square meters of federal maritime zone and is said to block Coast Guard rescue routes.
Local opposition isn’t limited to environmental concerns. Many Cozumel residents favor overnight tourists, who reportedly spend more in the local economy than the cruise passengers that visit for just a few hours. Even though the cruise industry brings in approximately US $740 million annually, reports highlight that 40% of local residents live below the poverty line.
Cozumel, which has a population of 88,000, already features three cruise docks with multiple slips. Muelles del Caribe had initially planned to commence construction just 10 days prior to Semarnat’s latest halt.
Semarnat also noted that several permits and concessions related to the necessary environmental impact study have not yet been granted, adding further uncertainty to the project’s future.
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