Mexico Demarcates Coastal Land in Celestún Amid Disputes

Celestún, Yucatán — Mexico’s Secretariat of Agrarian, Territorial, and Urban Development (Sedatu) has begun surveying and demarcating the coastal property known as Adonay in Celestún, Yucatán, while granting a 30-day window for affected landowners to contest the process.

Sedatu’s Official Notice and Property Details

On Friday, August 1, 2025, Sedatu published an official notice in the Diario Oficial de la Federación (DOF) announcing the measurement and demarcation of the Adonay property, an approximately 2.01-hectare parcel presumed to be federal land.

The property’s boundaries are defined as follows:

• North: 159.100 meters, bordering unclaimed national lands.
• East: 125.999 meters, adjacent to the Celestún-Sisal road.
• West: 125.122 meters, bordering the Gulf of Mexico’s Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone (Zofemat).
• South: 161.133 meters, adjoining abandoned lots.

Geographic coordinates place Adonay at Latitude 20°53’56.17” North and Longitude 90°23’8.78” West, north of Celestún’s urban area and east of Calle 12 (the Celestún-Sisal route).

Legal Process and Deadlines

Sergio Manuel Adrian Osorio, the appointed surveyor, stated that the Sedatu’s General Directorate of National Lands ordered the demarcation on March 25, 2025, and assigned him to oversee the process on May 6, 2025.

The notice serves as a formal notification to property owners, occupants, and adjacent landowners who may be affected. They have 30 business days, starting August 1, to present documentation supporting their claims at Sedatu’s Yucatán office:

• Address: Calle 6 (Avenida Correa Rachó) No. 402, Colonia Díaz Ordaz, Mérida.

Failure to respond within the deadline or attend subsequent proceedings will be interpreted as acquiescence to the demarcation results.

Context: Land Disputes and Environmental Concerns

Celestún has faced recurring conflicts over land ownership, including alleged illegal sales by local officials and coastal mafias. In March 2025, clashes erupted between groups vying for lots near the Sisal road.

Additionally, Mexico’s Environment Ministry (Semarnat) confirmed in June 2025 that real estate developments in Celestún had destroyed mangroves and coastal dunes, violating environmental laws. Despite local demand for housing, Celestún was excluded from Sedatu’s 2025 housing regularization program, which covers 55 municipalities, including Mérida, Kanasín, and Progreso.

Precedent: Similar Cases in Yucatán

This action follows Sedatu’s April 2024 demarcation of Playa Linda in Telchac Puerto, another coastal property claimed by the federal government.

The demarcation process will be documented in the Diario Oficial del Estado de Yucatán (DOEY) and posted near the site. Affected parties must submit certified copies of property deeds or other evidence for verification.