Puerto Morelos Mayor Highlights Reef’s Economic and Cultural Importance on 28th Anniversary

Puerto Morelos, Mexico — Mayor Blanca Merari Tziu Muñoz emphasized the Puerto Morelos reef’s critical importance to the local economy and community identity during celebrations marking the 28th anniversary of the Puerto Morelos Reef National Park.

The mayor said the reef provides thousands of families with opportunities in tourism, responsible fishing, and environmental services that depend directly on the ecosystem’s health and balance. “By protecting it, we protect our economy, our identity, and the quality of life for everyone who lives in this municipality,” she stated during the ceremony at the Ventana al Mar in the town’s historic center.

Merari described the reef as one of the municipality’s most valuable natural assets and a reference point for the environmental richness that distinguishes the Mexican Caribbean. “Commemorating this anniversary recognizes its greatness, but also its vulnerability,” she said. “Marine ecosystems face growing challenges from climate change, pollution, and improper resource use.”

She stressed that the anniversary serves as a reminder of the collective responsibility to protect and restore this natural heritage, noting that the reef functions as a natural shield against storms and hurricanes, preserves beach stability, and hosts extraordinary biodiversity that forms part of the community’s identity.

The mayor specifically recognized the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp) and its team for their conservation commitment, which she described as requiring daily, constant, technical work with deep vocational dedication.

Octavio Granados González, director of both the Puerto Morelos Reef National Park and the Puerto Morelos Mangrove Flora and Fauna Protection Area, said the reef represents identity, history, and conservation commitment—a task that involves society, academia, and productive sectors. He noted this anniversary comes at a strategic moment for Mexico’s environmental policy, where the government promotes conservation with a humanistic vision that links natural heritage protection with social wellbeing, environmental justice, and respect for territories.

Aimee Regina Rodríguez Vivas, Secretary of Environment, Animal Welfare, and Sustainable Mobility, highlighted municipal conservation actions in recent years, including creating her department to protect ecosystems, promote responsible environmental care, and consolidate sustainable development. “We’ve implemented a permanent environmental education and responsible communication strategy to strengthen collective awareness about the reef’s value and importance,” she added, mentioning informational banners on beaches and campaigns targeting tourists and residents.

The event featured informational booths from institutions including the Comprehensive Research Laboratory for Reef Conservation, Reef Systems Functional Ecology Laboratory, National Institute of Marine Sciences and Limnology, and Seagrass Laboratory, along with Conanp’s Turtle Camp, Crococun, and Reef Sentinels, providing information about reef health, marine species, and protection efforts. Participants also shared an anniversary cake.

Other attendees included Margarita Vela Pérez, Port Captain; Lorenzo Álvarez Filip, Executive President of the Advisory Council and representative of UNAM’s Reef Systems Unit; and Miguel Ángel Zetina Cuevas, Puerto Morelos chronicler.