Conservation News: Essential Rocky Habitat Saved from Destruction

After three years of legal battles the Mexican Secretary of the Environment determined that the Sandy Beach Resorts Marina, between Sandy Beach and La Cholla, could not be authorized to continue. The project would have destroyed vital rocky reef habitat.

The legal process was led by CEDO, commercial divers from Puerto Peñasco and the Mexican Center for Environmental Law (CEMDA). The basis for this decision was the lack of hard scientific evidence to state that the project would not have significant impacts on the environment. This ruling will stop the destruction of a shallow rocky reef that has immense ecological and social importance, including being used as a marine reserve by local commercial divers to promote sustainable fisheries, elevated levels of biodiversity, presence of several protected species and its proximity to the Upper Gulf Biosphere Reserve. This is a great sign the Mexican government is adequately enforcing environmental law.

The decision affects plans for "Village E" and "Village G" of the Sandy Beach Resorts Master Plan (see image below). Included in the plan for Village E were: an external marina, internal marina, condomuniums, town center With retail/commercial spaces, timeshares, hotel/health club, yacht club, restaurants and a beach club. Village G, just north of Village E, would include: a large craft residential marina, small craft marina, residential lots and a dry dock boat storage area.

*** Click below to view the map in more detail and locate the areas the above paragraph discusses.

 
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