Environmental Group Files Complaint Alleging Ecocide in Puerto Aventuras

Puerto Aventuras, Quintana Roo — An environmental group has filed a formal complaint with federal authorities over what it calls ecocide at the exclusive Puerto Aventuras resort complex, alleging illegal destruction of an endangered palm forest and blockage of a federal waterway to make way for new construction.

The Grupo Ecologista del Mayab (GEMA) announced it filed a citizen complaint with the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) after residents provided photographic and video evidence showing heavy machinery blocking a coastal inlet with rocks and clearing surrounding vegetation. The group says the work destroyed a forest of chit palm (Thrinax radiata), an endangered species protected under Mexican law.

Aracely Domínguez, president of GEMA, told national newspaper El Universal that coastal inlets form part of the federal maritime-terrestrial zone and cannot legally be closed or appropriated by private parties. The organization maintains that the destruction of protected vegetation and the obstruction of sea access represent serious environmental regression in this stretch of coastline between Playa del Carmen and Tulum.

According to GEMA, the situation began after a property within the resort complex was sold to a private individual who is now suspected of being responsible for the alleged damage. Domínguez emphasized that the chit palm forest provides critical habitat and that altering the inlet runs counter to Puerto Aventuras’ original marina-based design, which integrates canals and open sea access as defining features of the development.

GEMA has called on Profepa to intervene immediately, halt the construction activity, and apply sanctions where appropriate. Because the case involves both a protected species and federal coastal property, potential penalties could include significant fines and criminal charges. The group warned that allowing such actions to proceed unchecked could set a precedent for similar developments along Quintana Roo’s coastline.

Federal Beach Access Disputes Add to Tensions

The complaint comes at a time of heightened scrutiny over how federal coastal zones are being managed within Puerto Aventuras.

In recent months, controversy has grown around public access to Fatima Bay, one of the community’s most visible beachfront areas. Residents and visitors have reported being stopped at a beach access point adjacent to the Puerto Aventuras Hotel & Beach Club when carrying personal beach equipment. Allegations circulating locally suggest that entry was being conditioned on payment for the use of the club’s facilities.

Under Mexico’s Ley General de Bienes Nacionales, beaches are federal property within 20 meters inland from the high tide line, known as the Zona Federal Marítimo Terrestre (ZOFEMAT). Federal law guarantees free and unobstructed access to that zone. Concession holders may operate businesses within designated federal areas, but concessions do not grant ownership of the beach nor the right to restrict public entry.

Reforms enacted in 2020 strengthened enforcement mechanisms and established financial penalties for obstructing public access. In Puerto Aventuras, some residents have reportedly filed complaints with Profepa seeking clarification and enforcement regarding beach entry conditions.

While the beach access issue is legally distinct from the inlet obstruction and vegetation clearing described in GEMA’s complaint, both controversies center on the same underlying question: how federal coastal property is managed within a privately developed residential and tourism complex.

Broader Environmental Pressures in Puerto Aventuras

Puerto Aventuras has faced recurring environmental challenges in recent years, particularly related to sargassum influxes that have affected Bahía de Fátima and neighboring Kantenah Bay. Like much of the Mexican Caribbean, the community has experienced seasonal seaweed accumulations that impact marine life, shoreline conditions, and tourism activity.

Earlier this year, property owners within Puerto Aventuras voted to approve the installation of floating sargassum barriers designed to protect both Bahía de Fátima and Kantenah Bay from incoming seaweed. The multi-million-peso project includes offshore containment systems intended to redirect macroalgae before it reaches sensitive coastal areas.

Supporters of the initiative argue that the barriers are necessary to preserve beach usability and protect marine ecosystems from prolonged decomposition events. Critics have raised questions about environmental oversight and long-term ecological effects. The vote nonetheless passed, signaling strong support among property owners for proactive coastal management measures.

The new ecocide complaint adds another layer to ongoing debates about development, environmental stewardship, and federal jurisdiction within Puerto Aventuras. As authorities review the allegations regarding protected vegetation and inlet obstruction, the case may test how effectively environmental and maritime-terrestrial regulations are enforced in one of the Riviera Maya’s most established residential enclaves.

As of publication, Profepa has not issued a public statement regarding the complaint.