Cerralvo Island, also known as Jacques Cousteau Island, has returned to the center of public debate after appearing for sale on the Mercado Libre platform. The offer, reaching $115 million, promises sustainable development in a protected area, but raises serious legal and environmental concerns. The news has generated both enthusiasm and concern.
Located off the coast of La Paz, Baja California Sur, Cerralvo Island encompasses more than 11,000 hectares of beaches, dunes, and unique natural areas. The listing doesn’t explicitly mention its name, but satellite images and location are consistent. The description points to a “comprehensive ecological development” that would include hotels, housing, docks, an airport, and a multimodal transportation system.
The proposed uses include eco-lodges, low-impact tourism infrastructure, and ecotourism activities such as diving, snorkeling, and mountain biking. Everything seems to fit within the ideal of sustainable development, although the mechanisms for achieving such sustainability in a protected area are not detailed.
Keller W. Metropolitan is listed as responsible for the listing. It is a verified real estate agent on the platform, which has given the offer a certain air of legitimacy, although it does not clear up the legal questions.
Cerralvo Island is no ordinary piece of land. Since 2005, it has been part of the UNESCO-recognized natural heritage list of the islands and protected areas of the Gulf of California. This status entails severe restrictions on its use and development.
So far, neither local nor federal authorities have issued a clear position on the legality of the alleged sale. Citizens and environmentalists have expressed concern, fearing that this commercial operation could violate environmental or heritage laws.
Although the announcement could represent an unprecedented opportunity to develop a model ecological tourism enclave, the lack of transparency and regulation surrounding the proposal generates mistrust. Without a solid legal basis and guarantees of environmental protection, the sale of Cerralvo Island could become one of the most controversial disputes of the year in Mexico.
Source: es.gizmodo
