Port Workers Sue Government Over Environmental Decree

Terminal and port operators are planning a legal challenge against the decree of the Felipe Carrillo Puerto Protected Natural Area (ANP) in Quintana Roo. The area, known for its diverse flora and fauna, was designated by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and announced in the Official Gazette of the Federation on September 23rd.

The environmental zone encompasses two parcels of land totaling 53,227 hectares across the municipalities of Solidaridad, Cozumel, and Tulum. The first parcel, located in the jungle, is known as "Felipe Carrillo Puerto" and spans 53,071 hectares. The second parcel, "La Dársena", consists of 165 hectares adjacent to the Caribbean Sea.

The legal challenge is spearheaded by the Association of Terminals and Port Operators, Civil Association (Atopac), which represents 30 companies involved in infrastructure, storage, and logistics in port terminals across Altamira, Tamaulipas; Manzanillo, Colima; Tuxpan and Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz; and Mazatlán and Topolobampo, in Sinaloa, among others.

The lawsuit, claiming breach of four constitutional articles, was admitted to the Ninth District Court of Cancún on January 8th. The articles cited relate to equality of human rights, no retroactive laws, protection of personal property, and the right to claim rights without employing self-justice.

This lawsuit follows another filed by mining company Rancho Piedra Caliza (Rapica) against the same decree on October 22, 2024. Rapica, a subsidiary of Calizas Industriales del Carmen (Calica), was closed by the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) in May 2022 for causing irreversible damage to the ecosystem.

The Felipe Carrillo Puerto ANP is home to well-preserved tropical forests, mangroves, savannas, palm groves, and coastal scrublands, as well as 1,063 species of animals. The protective decree prohibits new settlements, mining and extraction activities, waste disposal, and the introduction of invasive wildlife or genetically modified organisms. It also forbids any disturbance to wildlife habitats or historical, archaeological, or paleontological sites. However, low-impact environmental tourism and the construction and maintenance of infrastructure are permitted, subject to the specific subzone.