Locals Fight Tourism Takeover in Quintana Roo Bay

CHETUMAL — Tension is rising on the central coast of Quintana Roo, where a group of fishermen from the communities of Punta Herrero and María Elena are denouncing what they describe as a plan to take away their livelihood.

Through a public letter addressed to the state government, the maritime workers denounced that individuals from outside the community, linked to tourist interests and backed by foreign capital, are pressuring to limit their activities and remove them from the area where they have worked for generations.

This is due to the American company Blacksmith Pesca's intention to monopolize the practice of sport fly fishing in the Bahía del Espíritu Santo, located on the coast of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere. The company's representative in the area is Jorge Angulo Tut, a former employee of the sport fishing businesses operated from Punta Pájaros by former Banamex president Roberto Hernández Ramírez.

According to the affected fishermen, this is not merely commercial competition but an intimidation strategy that includes threats of closure and acts of constant harassment. They interpret these actions as a blatant attempt to establish a monopoly over tourism in that coastal strip of southern Quintana Roo.

They fear that, if these pressures are not stopped, access to the region's natural beauty will be in the hands of a few, leaving local families without the possibility of utilizing the resources of their own territory.

Given the seriousness of the events, the signatories of the letter have formally requested a meeting with Governor Mara Lezama. They also plan to seek dialogue with her at the public hearing she will hold on Tuesday in the town of X-Pichil, Felipe Carrillo Puerto.

Their objective is to directly expose how these external groups are attempting to control the local economy through fear and influence peddling. The fishermen emphasize that their intention is not to work outside the law, but to seek justice and a level playing field to compete, preventing the tourist development of the Mayan zone from becoming an exclusive benefit for investors who are unfamiliar with the reality of the coastal towns.

In the document, the workers expressed their full willingness to regularize their status, process all necessary permits, and comply with their tax obligations to the Mexican Tax Administration Service (SAT). They make clear they are not opposed to order or progress, as long as their right to work is respected, which is the only economic engine for the families of Punta Herrero and María Elena.

It is a plea for the state authority not to allow foreign money and private interests to take precedence over the people who have cared for and inhabited these coasts for decades.

The residents are hoping for a prompt response from the state government to prevent the conflict from escalating. The inhabitants want to remain in control of their destiny and for tourism in Quintana Roo to be truly shared, without forced displacement or hidden threats under the guise of development projects.

Meanwhile, community watch groups remain vigilant in the area to protect their fishing grounds and modest tourist services from any attempted raids.