Cozumel Fights New Cruise Pier to Save Vital Reef

Residents of Cozumel have renewed protests against the construction of a fourth cruise ship pier on the island following a recent court ruling allowing the project to proceed. Demonstrators argue the development threatens the local environment, particularly the Villablanca Reef, a vital ecological and economic resource for the community.

Organized Resistance Against the Pier

Citizens organized a protest via social media on Wednesday, April 23, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the fiscal pier, while local boat operators staged a demonstration at the Villablanca Reef offshore.

Nohemí Guadalupe Martín Cab, president of the civil association Conservación, Investigación y Manejo Ambiental de Cozumel (CIMAC), explained the reef’s significance: “We are protecting a public area and a reef—Villablanca is the last remaining reef outside the public marine park. It is heavily visited by locals who depend on it economically, especially those without boats or permits to access the marine park. This is where they conduct dives and sell tours.”

Three Projects Threatening the Reef

The protesters highlighted three proposed developments in the area: the fourth cruise ship pier, the Cabo Mantarraya beach club (linked to the pier), and the expansion of the SSA cruise ship pier, the island’s first such structure.

Martín Cab emphasized the irreversible damage these projects could cause: “We will never again see the sea, the sunsets, the recreational area, or the reef—it will be killed. That’s why we are standing up, defending our public space, the reserve, and our right to a healthy environment.”

Legal Challenges and Continued Opposition

On February 26, opponents lost a legal appeal against the pier’s approval. However, Martín Cab noted that another legal avenue remains open: when the company seeks construction permits for land-based work, including the pier’s connection point.

Luis Rodrigo Huesca Alcántara, a member of the citizen collective Isla Cozumel, reported recent activity near the reef: “In recent days, platforms conducting geostatistical studies were spotted offshore near Villablanca Reef. These could be for the fourth pier or the expansion of the SSA pier.”

Regarding the dismissal of their 2021 injunction, Huesca Alcántara called it “a recurring trick in corruption cases” and vowed further action: “We won’t stand idly by. Our goal is to bring this to the Mañanera (President Sheinbaum’s morning press conference), to make this a national issue and demand respect for human rights—like a healthy environment, our city, and public health.”

A Broader Fight for Environmental Protection

The protesters aim to escalate their campaign, framing the issue as a national concern. Their demands center on safeguarding the reef, preserving public access to coastal areas, and upholding environmental rights.

The dispute underscores ongoing tensions between development and conservation in Quintana Roo, where tourism-driven projects frequently clash with local environmental advocacy.