Jared Laureles
La Jornada newspaper
Saturday, September 20, 2025, p. 12
The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) revoked the Environmental Impact Authorization (MIA) of the tourism project of the fourth dock on the island of Cozumel, in Quintana Roo, although it announced a new evaluation in accordance with the law.
Alicia Bárcena, head of the agency, stressed that the project did not have the elements required by mine, since no important aspects were considered such as the damage that could be caused to the reef and the flora and fauna of the place.
“We decided that the annulment was proceeded since the proponents submit a new manifestation of environmental impact if they wish, but the truth is that the fourth dock made no sense in that place they had chosen,” he recalcled in a brief interview at the end of a ceremony in the postal palace.
MIA was presented by the company Muelles del Caribe corresponding to the Muelle Cozumel project, cruise terminal, and had been approved on December 7, 2021 under the SGPA/DGIRA/DG-05859-21 resolution.
The decision to cancel mine was taken last September 11, through the Undersecretariat of Environmental Regulation, and responds to the analysis of the revision resource filed by the inhabitants of Cozumel, who expressed concern about the irreparable effects that this dock would cause on the reef system, in addition to implying the closure of the last public beach of the island.
The General Directorate of Environmental Impact and Risk (DGIRA) will carry out a new environmental assessment, in accordance with article 35 of the General Law of Ecological Balance and Environmental Protection, said Semarnat.
The Cozumel dock, cruise terminal was one of the 39 projects of the agreement for the economic reactivation that the federal government and the private initiative announced in October 2020.
According to the Mexican Center for Environmental Law, in MIA, what was indicated in the technical opinion of the Regional Directorate of Yucatan and Mexican Caribbean of the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp) was not taken into account, in which it was determined that the project was not congruent.
Protected hectares
On the other hand, during the cancellation of the Commemorative Postal Timbre of the 25 years of the Conanp, issued by Correos de México, the Secretary of the Environment, Alicia Bárcena reiterated the Mexican government’s commitment to protect 30 percent of the Mexican territory around 2030, equivalent to 153 million hectares.
With the issuance of 300 thousand stamps, the entire country and the world are made clear that “the natural wealth of Mexico is a pride”, with 100 million hectares protected in the 232 existing natural areas, which are a source of water, fertile soils, protection and especially every day more community development spaces.
