Controversy Erupts Over Cabo Mantarraya Beach Club

Total Gusto del Caribe, a company with plans to construct a beach club in the sea, is facing opposition from the environmental group Conservation, Research and Environmental Management of Cozumel, A.C. (Cimac). Cimac has launched a petition on Change.org to halt the Cabo Mantarraya project, which aims to build the beach club in the northern area of the Villa Blanca coastal reef. The project’s Environmental Impact Manifestation (MIA) is currently under public review by the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat). Cimac warns that the area is home to a variety of species protected by NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010, including the Acropora Palmata coral (elk horn), Orbicella annularis, Orbicella faveolata, parrotfish (Scarus and Sparisoma), all of which could be at risk if the project proceeds.

PROJECT IMPACTS
Cimac's president, Guadalupe Martín Cab, has voiced concerns about the project's impact on the marine ecosystem south of Cozumel, stating it could potentially destroy the area's corals. The MIA reveals that Total Gusto del Caribe plans to build a platform in the sea, attached to Cozumel's seafront wall at kilometer 2.9. The proposed beach club, consisting of floating squares and wooden structures anchored to the sea bed, would extend into the federal maritime terrestrial zone.

BEACH CLUB DETAILS
The proposed beach club would cover an area of 8,497 square meters, located directly on Rafael E. Melgar Avenue, in the urban area of the island. The project's MIA asserts that the platform's design will prioritize sustainability and environmental respect, utilizing construction techniques that minimize ecological impact. It also states that waste and water treatment systems will be implemented to maintain the marine environment's purity. The public can review and provide feedback on these plans until September 30.

REEF RELOCATION
The MIA also mentions that three coral specimens in the project area would be relocated to as-yet-unidentified "reception sites". Cimac's president has expressed concerns that, in addition to the environmental impact, the project would obstruct both the view and access to one of the few free seafront areas, which is currently used for recreational activities and is open to both locals and tourists. She urges the public to take advantage of the consultation period offered by Semarnat to voice their concerns before the project is fully approved.

Cimac, along with other citizens, is using social media and mobile messaging services to share the Change.org petition, which began collecting signatures on September 9 and has already amassed over 250 signatures.