PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico — A dispute over beach access in the Xcalacoco area escalated into a confrontation between private landholders and jet ski operators, prompting intervention by municipal officials and personnel from the Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone (Zofemat).
Tensions Over Private Property Claims
The altercation arose after landowners installed a perimeter mesh fence to restrict commercial activity along an informal access route leading to the coast. Landowners argue the land remains private property held by local families since 1942, acting merely as an easement rather than an official municipal road.
Property owners stated the fence was intended to halt unauthorized watercraft operations rather than impede pedestrian beachgoers.
- Land Rights: Landholders maintain that municipal records do not classify the path as a public street, preserving it as a “window to the sea” (ventana al mar) pending formal municipal classification.
- Federal Payments: One property representative noted making bimonthly concession payments totaling roughly 37,000 pesos—comprising general usage fees and coastal protection rights—to federal maritime authorities.
Official Seizures and Mediation
Following the placement of the fence, Zofemat officers intervened to clear the pathway. During the operation, authorities removed the mesh barrier and seized five vessels operating in the area:
- Equipment Confiscated: Three jet skis (motos acuáticas) and two boats were impounded by Zofemat pending administrative review.
- Regulatory Compliance: Property owners acknowledged that some confiscated watercraft belong to their group, noting they must undergo formal legal procedures to reclaim them.
Local authorities have summoned all involved parties to present land titles, concession permits, and operational licenses. The upcoming review aims to establish whether the pathway constitutes private property with an easement or a public access point, while determining regulations for commercial watercraft along Xcalacoco’s shoreline.
Source: El Heraldo de México
