The high impact of shore excursions

Sheltered by part of the largest continuous reef in the Western Hemisphere, the Costa Maya is situated on the Mexican Caribbean some 350km south of Cancún and just south of the stunning 1.3 million-acre Sian Ka’an reserve.

I’ve refrained from mentioning the Costa Maya on this blog, pretty much because the region avoided Wilma’s punch, instead suffering driving rains and a storm surge; a mere slap on the cheek by comparison with resorts to the north.

But I believe the following warrants some attention.

Ten of the largest cruise ship operators now visit Puerto Costa Maya (aerial photo) built to "resemble an ancient Mayan city". Before leaving their ship, passengers can choose from a range of excursions. OK, not too much wrong with that.

However, two activities in particular have caused growing discontent among locals and hoteliers:

• The "Boat Blast" allows passengers to jump behind the wheel of a personal speedboat and "blast off" to the reef parallel to the coastline.

Particularly dusturbing to me are allegations these high-powered craft regularly encroach into areas set aside for snorkeling. I continue to follow the ongoing campaign for Justice for Kirsty [McColl], the British singer-songwriter killed whilst scuba diving with her sons in a restricted diving area off Cozumel five years ago.

• Convoys of noisy Quad bike "ATV’s" (All Terrain Vehicles) "kick up dirt…" on "rip-roaring off-road adventures" along the unpaved coastal road in the direction of Xcalak, scattering wildlife, with some cruisers seemingly ignorant of the potential danger to themselves and to locals, especially children.

These ‘activities’ would seem to compromise Fonatur’s plan for the Costa Maya (published in 2002), identifying it as “integrally planned resort” area featuring “low density” and “absolute respect for biodiversity”.

It isn’t quite working out that way.

A meeting with Quintana Roo state officials will take place in Mahahual on April 7th, where these concerns will get a public airing. The case has also been taken to Profepa (the federal environmental enforcement agency) by a Mexican biologist. I’ve also learned that the directors of the reserves at Xcalak and Banco Chinchorro are also trying to re-balance the type of activities offered to cruise passengers.

The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef extends beyond the southern most tip of Quintana Roo and into neighbouring Belize. According to an article in the Seattle Times, the relentless cruise ship boom has fuelled growing unease across the border.

Here are a couple of key paragraphs…

"Last year, more than 800,000 cruise-ship visitors disembarked in [Belize City], according to the local tourist board. That’s nearly triple the nation’s population of 280,000 [in a country the size of Massachusetts].

"[Some] long-time operators say the herd mentality is at odds with Belize’s carefully crafted niche as an eco-tourism paradise."

I would like shore-excursion managers to guide tourists into making sensible choices when they visit as temporary guests to fragile areas. If necessary, the appropriate training should be given.

On a positive note, as part of an ambitious six-year project, Conservation International and its regional partner NGOs are trying to influence cruise ship companies and the kind of tours they buy.

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