Bacalar Businesses Push Back on Laguna Overregulation

Chetumal, Mexico — Business owners and tourism service providers in Bacalar have called on the Port Authority to refrain from excessive regulation of operations in the Laguna de Bacalar. Instead, they emphasized the need for authorities to focus on ensuring compliance with existing norms, particularly regarding vessel cleanliness, as contamination risks extend beyond navigation activities.

The appeal was made during a meeting attended by hoteliers, nautical operators, civil engineers, and members of the Laguna de Bacalar Community Council, alongside representatives from APIQROO, Conagua, and the Secretariat of Tourism.

New Navigation Rules for Laguna Bacalar

Port Captain Román Bustos Gómez announced that the forthcoming General Navigation Rules for Laguna Bacalar are based on technical and social proposals submitted since 2020 by business groups, civil associations, and local communities. These rules aim to regulate navigation without affecting Natural Protected Areas (ANP).

Bustos Gómez clarified that the publication of the new regulations in the Diario Oficial de la Federación had been delayed due to jurisdictional changes. The Coordination of Ports and Merchant Marine was transferred from the Secretariat of Communications to the Secretariat of the Navy, making the Port Authority legally responsible for administering the lagoon.

Key Provisions of the New Rules

The updated regulations include measures to:

• Decentralize vessel traffic from the central area near the town, expanding navigation to underutilized sections of the 60-kilometer-long lagoon.
• Prohibit navigation, swimming, and contact in designated coastal subzones of Bacalar and Xul-Há to protect stromatolites.
• Restrict motorized vessel speeds to 4 knots (7.4 km/h) in cenote subzones, with swimming, snorkeling, and diving banned except for research purposes with prior authorization.
• Limit loudspeaker use within 300 meters of Isla de los Pájaros (Bird Island).
• Designate swimming zones up to 50 meters from the shoreline, marked with buoys after Port Authority approval.
• Enforce speed limits for boats, pontoons, and jet skis in specified areas.

The business community stressed that broader environmental concerns—such as agrochemical runoff, inadequate drainage infrastructure, and sediment discharge—require more comprehensive solutions beyond navigation controls.