Environmental and civil society organizations gathered at the Macroplaza on the Veracruz Malecón to oppose construction of a four‑kilometer South Breakwater, scheduled to begin next month. Protesters argue the structure would jeopardize the Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano, with a direct threat to the La Gallega reef, a critical habitat within the marine park.
According to demonstrators, Asipona Veracruz director, retired military officer Abraham Caballero Rosas, announced the start of works for the port’s expansion with approval from the Coordinación General de Puertos y Marina Mercante, led by Captain Manuel Gutiérrez Gallardo. They warn the breakwater’s alignment would cross directly over the La Gallega formation, compounding risks to a fragile ecosystem shaped over centuries.
Legal and ecological stakes in Veracruz
Protesters emphasized that the dispute is not merely environmental but legal. In March 2022, the First Chamber of Mexico’s Supreme Court resolved amparo 54/2022, annulling environmental permits granted by Semarnat since 2004 for the port project. The Court concluded that the project’s environmental evaluation had been fragmented, failed to account for cumulative and overall impacts, and did not rely on the best available science. The ruling ordered a new, comprehensive environmental assessment that explicitly considers reefs, mangroves, and wetlands. Organizers said no works may resume until that integrated evaluation is completed.
Environmental organizations—including Terranova, AIDA, and EarthJustice—contend the South Breakwater would directly impact La Gallega, home to corals, sea turtles, and diverse reef fish. They also warn that sourcing stone for the breakwater could extend the damage beyond the harbor, fearing that protected natural areas might be used as material banks. Such extraction would compound losses to habitats already under stress and could further weaken coastal resilience.
Reef systems are natural buffers against hurricanes and coastal erosion; they sustain fisheries and underpin local tourism. Community representatives argue that degrading these ecosystems would reverberate through Veracruz’s economy, reducing fish catches, eroding tourism revenue, and raising long-term coastal protection costs. In their view, short-term construction gains risk triggering enduring environmental and economic liabilities that the region can ill afford.
Residents called for peaceful mobilization on Sunday, September 14, at 5 p.m. along the Veracruz Malecón, combining music, posters, and children’s activities to broaden public awareness. With son jarocho performances and community outreach, participants framed the issue as both scientific and civic. “We do not want more ships; we want healthy reefs,” organizers said, underscoring that a healthy environment is a fundamental human right and that protecting La Gallega aligns with longstanding cultural and economic interests.
Proponents of the expansion have signaled an investment of more than 10 billion pesos for the breakwater, financed with public and private resources, according to protesters. Environmental advocates counter that monetary figures do not capture the full value of an ecosystem that reduces storm damage, supports livelihoods, and defines Veracruz’s coastal identity. They argue that, before any new construction advances, authorities must demonstrate compliance with the 2022 ruling, publish a transparent, cumulative-impact assessment, and clarify the origin of construction materials to ensure no protected sites are exploited.
The coalition of local groups seeks an immediate halt to preparatory activities for the South Breakwater, pending the comprehensive environmental review mandated by the Court. Their demands include a holistic evaluation that integrates reef health, mangrove services, and wetland dynamics; public disclosure of findings; and meaningful participation by affected communities. At stake, they say, is not only La Gallega’s biodiversity but the long-term safety, economy, and cultural heritage of Veracruz’s coast.
