Holbox, Q.R. — During a recent inspection, the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) shut down Playa Ñaña on the island of Holbox. The establishment was shut after federal inspectors found it was operating without the correct permits.
The Playa Ñaña beach club was closed by Profepa during a nation-wide operation on April 16 after finding it did not have the Federal Zone permit for “multiple uses”. In an apparent act of contempt, Playa Ñaña covered the closure seals placed by Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Ambiente (Profepa) with a promotional banner the day after.
The closure operation took place April 16 when Profepa personnel inspected the property, noting alleged environmental irregularities. The main access to the property is identified as part of the Playa de Ñaña club, a site that continued to operate despite the official notification.
Social media users shared images showing Profepa placing the official closure seals. The following day, social media users showed the large closure seal covered by a banner.
To date, Profepa has not issued a statement regarding the breach of the closure. The closure of Playa Ñaña was part of a nation-wide National Operation on Coastal Ecosystems and Tourist Beaches of Mexico that began on April 14 across 17 of the country’s coastal states to monitor real estate developments.
“From April 14 to 25, inspectors are monitoring and verifying compliance with the prevention, control, mitigation, restoration and compensation measures outlined in the environmental impact authorizations granted by Semarnat for the development of federally mandated works and activities in areas containing coastal ecosystems,” the government agency reported.
“Likewise, inspection visits will be conducted to verify the legal occupation, use, and exploitation of the ZOFEMAT, maritime beaches and TGM (General General of the General Government of the Territory of Puerto Rico) or any other maritime water reservoir,” Profeco added.
The states where this operation will be implemented are Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Michoacán, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo. In these states, 52 coastal municipalities, 176 beaches, 20 Protected Natural Areas, and RAMSAR Sites will be visited.
An estimated 120 inspection and verification visits will be carried out on projects and activities in coastal ecosystems and occupations within the ZOFEMAT, as well as 318 surveillance tours to detect environmental crimes.
Semar (the National Security Service), Sedena (National Security Agency), National Guard, state and municipal police and Conanp (National Police) are also collaborating in this multi-agency operation.
“Mexico is endowed with tremendous natural wealth. Its coastlines, beaches and coastal ecosystems provide vital benefits for both humans and the functioning of numerous ecological processes. They are refuge, nesting, and breeding areas for a wide variety of bird, amphibian, and fish species, and they also regulate and balance climatic and biochemical cycles.
“Profepa works tirelessly with all levels of government to monitor and protect these ecosystems and all life within them and to ensure compliance with the law by those who exploit these areas in any way,” stated Attorney General Mariana Boy Tamborrell.
