Cozumel Pier Fight: Environmentalists or Business Interests?

Cozumel, Mexico — As the municipal government of Cozumel and certain environmental groups maintain their opposition to the construction of a fourth cruise pier—a project spearheaded by the company Muelles del Caribe—questions have arisen regarding the legitimacy of those leading the resistance. The case has reignited debates over the fine line between genuine environmental protection and private interests disguised as conservation efforts.

Federal Concession Meets Local Opposition

The concession for the fourth pier was granted by the federal government in 2021, with an estimated investment of nearly one billion pesos. Despite this, the project has faced strong pushback from local authorities and activists, who claim potential harm to a coral reef that, according to records from Mexico’s environmental agency Semarnat, does not exist.

One of the primary opponents is Sand Dollar Sports, a water sports center operating for over four decades. The company presents itself as a “PADI 5 Star Dive Center” and a member of Green Fins, theoretically committing it to sustainable practices. Partnering with the Cozumel Coral Reef Restoration Program (CCRRP), led by biologist Germán Méndez, the organization offers excursions, ecological certifications, and coral restoration activities. However, inconsistencies have begun to surface behind this facade.

Lack of Legal or Fiscal Standing

According to sources consulted by Info Transportes, the CCRRP is not legally registered as a civil association and lacks official environmental or fiscal permits. Despite this, it claims to have installed 29 coral structures and operates a specialized laboratory.

The program charges $250 to certify volunteers in coral management, replicating a “conservation tourism” model criticized in other regions, such as Nayarit, where sea turtles have become more of a tourist brand than a legitimate environmental cause.

Sand Dollar Sports, a recreational company run by U.S. expatriates based on the island, also offers experiences for $49 to observe coral spawning and participate in restoration activities at its coastal aquarium. All participants receive a certificate of involvement in reef restoration, though it remains unclear which authority validates these certifications or whether the interventions have technical or governmental oversight. No environmental impact studies or monitoring by Profepa or Semarnat have been documented.

The Hidden Agenda Behind Opposition

Despite criticizing the fourth pier project—arguing it would “take the beach away from Cozumel residents”—Sand Dollar Sports currently operates on a 60-meter stretch of federal beach, converted into a bar and dive center with port infrastructure.

“It’s a silent privatization of public spaces, masked under the rhetoric of environmental conservation,” sources familiar with the conflict stated.

Official Stance

Meanwhile, Cozumel Mayor José Luis Chacón reaffirmed in a social media video that his administration does not support the pier’s development.

“We have not received any formal written request, but from the outset, I can say it is not viable,” the mayor declared, despite having remained silent on the issue until recently. The municipal government recently announced on social media that it had officially rejected the project.

Though the city’s objections have been submitted to Semarnat, municipal resolutions hold no binding authority—yet they have become a political tool.

Conservation or Business?

Cases like Sand Dollar Sports reveal a troubling pattern:

• Environmental causes are used to legitimize the occupation of public spaces.
• Ecosystems are monetized without clear regulation or institutional oversight.
• Sustainable development projects are obstructed through selective activism while legal requirements are circumvented.