Battle Over Bacalar Lagoon’s Future Heats Up

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — The Port Captaincy and the Bacalar government have entered a public dispute over the regulation of tourism activities in the Seven Colors Lagoon, amid concerns about potential ecological damage due to recreational overuse.

Calls for Protected Status Amid Growing Chaos

Román Bustos Gómez, representing the Port Captaincy in Chetumal and Bacalar, stated that the only viable solution to curb the uncontrolled increase in tour boats operating in the lagoon is to designate it as a protected natural area. He emphasized that neither the local population, environmental groups, nor municipal authorities can rely on the Mexican Navy (Semar) or the Port Captaincy to regulate the number of vessels or enforce orderly navigation.

Bustos Gómez clarified that the Port Captaincy lacks the legal authority to impose such restrictions, despite previous commitments from Vice Admiral Marco Antonio Muñoz Hernández, Commander of the XI Naval Zone. He insisted that declaring the lagoon a protected area is the sole way to ensure the conservation of its diverse ecosystems, given the lack of environmental awareness among private operators and tour companies.

Municipal Government Opposes Protected Status

Javier Padilla Balam, speaking on behalf of the Bacalar municipal government, expressed surprise at the proposal, arguing that designating the lagoon as a protected area would harm tourism and the local economy, which hundreds of families depend on.

Padilla Balam warned that such a move could impose severe restrictions, potentially limiting watercraft to kayaks and even forcing the removal of restaurants along the lagoon’s shores. He questioned why the Port Captaincy, which currently inspects and fines tour operators, would now claim it cannot regulate recreational activities.

The Bacalar administration, led by Mayor José Alfredo “Chepe” Contreras Méndez, maintains its commitment to defending the lagoon’s ecological integrity but opposes measures that could stifle economic activity.

Ongoing Debate Over Conservation and Livelihoods

The dispute highlights the tension between environmental preservation and economic survival in Bacalar, a designated “Pueblo Mágico” (Magical Town) where tourism is a primary industry. While conservationists push for stricter protections, local officials fear the repercussions for businesses and residents reliant on the lagoon’s appeal.

The Port Captaincy has pledged to continue enforcing existing regulations within its jurisdiction but reiterated that long-term conservation requires higher-level intervention. Meanwhile, the Bacalar government remains skeptical, viewing the proposal as an impractical and economically damaging solution.