Caribe Mexicano Biosphere Reserve

To preserve ecosystems across five marine ecoregions with exceptional environmental characteristics, including their natural elements, biological processes, and oceanographic phenomena. It aims to conserve a wide diversity of ecosystems, both terrestrial and marine, and their connectivity, such as forests, wetlands, mangroves, coastal dunes, sandy beaches, coastal lagoons, seagrass beds, coral reefs, and deep-sea areas, safeguarding the genetic diversity of wild species crucial for evolutionary continuity and ensuring the preservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. This includes protecting endemic species, those at risk of extinction, threatened species, and those under special protection, promoting sustainable use and conservation of ecosystems and their components and functions, facilitating scientific research and ecosystem studies, and ensuring the link and interdependence between productive activities and environmental quality, enhancing visitor satisfaction related to the Protected Natural Area.

Species of Concern: Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle), White mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa), Black mangrove (Avicennia germinans), Button mangrove (Conocarpus erectus), Chit palm (Thrinax radiata), Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), Sardinian shark (Carcharhinus leucas), West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata squamata), Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)

Restrictions

1. All users and visitors must collect and take with them the solid waste generated during the development of their activities, and deposit it outside the Biosphere Reserve, in the sites designated for this purpose by the competent authorities. It is the responsibility of all service providers and those who perform permitted activities within the Biosphere Reserve to use only biodegradable disposable containers, receptacles, packaging, or any other type of disposable utensils. Under no circumstances will the use of non-biodegradable disposable materials such as PET, styrofoam, plastic, polyethylene, and polyethylene terephthalate be allowed through the services or activities developed in the Protected Natural Area; therefore, any type of container, receptacle, packaging, or utensil made with these materials must be disposed of in the disposal sites established by the service providers or, if applicable, the Reserve Management.
2. Authorization from Semarnat through Conanp will be required for the following activities:
I. Tourist-recreational activities within Protected Natural Areas in all their modalities;
II. Filming, photography activities, capturing images or sounds for commercial purposes in Protected Natural Areas, and
III. Commercial activities within Protected Natural Areas (sale of food and crafts).
3. With the aim of protecting the natural resources of the Biosphere Reserve and providing the necessary support, the interested party will previously submit a notice accompanied by the corresponding project to the Biosphere Reserve Management:
I. Research without collection or manipulation of specimens of species not considered at risk;
II. Environmental education that does not involve any extractive activity within the Protected Natural Area;
III. Monitoring without collection or manipulation of specimens of species not considered at risk;
IV. Filming, photography activities, capturing images or sound by any means, for scientific, cultural, or educational purposes that do not require equipment composed of more than one specialized technician as support to the person operating the main equipment, and
V. Research activities with collection or manipulation of specimens of wild flora and fauna. Regardless of the notice referred to in this section, the interested party must have the corresponding authorizations and permits.
4. Authorization from Semarnat, through its different administrative units, will be required for the following activities, in terms of applicable legal provisions:
I. Collection of specimens, parts, and derivatives of wildlife for scientific research purposes and teaching purposes, in all its modalities;
II. Collection of forest biological resources for scientific purposes;
III. Extractive use of specimens, parts, and derivatives of wildlife;
IV. Non-extractive use of wildlife;
V. Works and activities in Protected Natural Areas of federal competence, requiring an environmental impact statement;
VI. Management, control, and remediation of problems associated with specimens and populations that become harmful, and
VII. Registration of Management Units for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Wildlife.
5. A concession from the Federal Executive, through Semarnat, will be required for the use, exploitation, or utilization of a beach area, Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone, or lands reclaimed from the sea or any other marine water deposit.
6. The tourist-recreational activities intended to be carried out within the Biosphere Reserve will be conducted considering the following aspects:
I. Respect the carrying capacity established at each site;
II. Do not cause a significant alteration to the ecosystems;
III. Preferably have a direct benefit for the local inhabitants or the area of influence of the Biosphere Reserve;
IV. Promote environmental education;
V. The required infrastructure should be in harmony with the natural surroundings and not affect coral formations;
VI. Service providers must require visitors to wear the badge or bracelet that proves the payment of the corresponding rights, and
VII. Adopt the measures determined by the Biosphere Reserve Management. For the purposes set forth in section VII of this Rule, the Management will notify the technical service providers of the measures applicable to tourist-recreational activities with wild species, indicating their timing, as well as the technical reasons that motivate them.
7. Tourist activities within the Biosphere Reserve will be carried out respecting the carrying capacity studies, which will limit the maximum number of boats or visitors.
8. During the development of tourist activities in terrestrial or marine areas, visitors must comply with the Rules contained in this instrument and will have the following obligations:
I. Do not leave any type of material or waste;
II. Do not use motor vehicles on sand dunes and beaches;
III. Use only biodegradable topical products during aquatic activities, and
IV. Wear the badge or bracelet that proves the payment of the corresponding rights.
9. With the aim of ensuring that, during the tours for the observation of sea turtles in nesting sites, no anthropogenic impacts are generated that could cause or potentially cause alterations in the spawning cycle and survival of the turtle hatchlings, these can only be carried out according to the established in the Official Mexican Standard NOM-162-Semarnat-2012, which establishes the specifications for the protection, recovery, and management of sea turtle populations in their nesting habitat.
10. During the activities of autonomous diving, free diving in its snorkeling and apnea modalities, and swimming for the observation of wildlife, the following considerations must be taken into account:
I. Do not step on, break, or touch corals with hands or fins, and maintain a distance greater than 1.5 meters from any reef structure;
II. Do not touch, alter, disturb, or annoy the wildlife;
III. Gloves, knives, blades, extendable tubes for cameras, crossbows, harpoons, spear guns, or any weapon, device, or gadget that could harm the fauna may not be used;
IV. Do not remove or extract specimens, parts, or derivatives of living or dead wildlife, nor remove, extract, or cut seagrasses, and
V. Under no circumstances will the swimming circuit of wildlife individuals or their trajectory be blocked.
11. During the activities of observation and swimming with sea turtles, it is not allowed to feed, chase, touch, disturb, harass, retain, harm or hold turtles or other species of fauna, nor to obstruct their swimming route or escape paths. Similarly, the following considerations must be adhered to:
I. Carry out activities only in the sites established for this purpose, respecting the swimming circuits of nests by the Protected Natural Area Management;
II. Visitors must be accompanied by a tourist guide, without exception;
III. A maximum of six visitors per tourist guide will be allowed;
IV. The schedule for carrying out tourist-recreational activities within the delimited circuits will be from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.;
V. All visitors and tourist guides must use a snorkel, mask, short fins, and life jackets that prevent total immersion, and under no circumstances can the jacket be replaced by a waist float;
VI. Visitors must remain in a horizontal position throughout the tour;
VII. A minimum distance of three meters from the sea turtles must be maintained, and
VIII. Upon identifying a specimen of wildlife, it should not be observed for more than five minutes.
12. During the development of observation and swimming activities with the whale shark, service providers and tourist guides must comply with the following provisions:
I. The authorized schedule for the realization of swimming and observation with wildlife, including the whale shark, mobulas, manta rays, and rays, will be from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.;
II. Captains of the boats must report their dispatch to the Harbor Master and Conanp before their departure;
III. Services can only be provided during daylight hours, when weather conditions are suitable. Services will be suspended as soon as the Biosphere Reserve Management or competent authorities request it for reasons of visitor safety;
IV. Provide a tourist guide for each group of visitors, who will be responsible for the group, so that during immersions to swim with a marine animal, they must accompany a maximum of two visitors at a time;
V. All users and group guides must wear life jackets and snorkels for the development of the activities; except for free diving in its apnea modality with the corresponding certification;
VI. In the site where the activity of observation and swimming with whale shark, mobulas, manta rays, and rays is performed, the speed limit will be three knots, without creating waves, when there are specimens of wildlife on the surface of the water or a school is present;
VII. In cases where groups of birds or turtles are found on the surface of the sea, the course must be diverted to avoid disturbing them;
VIII. Upon identifying a specimen of wildlife and if they want to swim with it, they should approach slowly from behind, keep the engine in neutral when at a distance from the specimen no less than the length of the boat, and then allow the visitors to descend and swim closer to the specimen;
IX. Only one boat per wildlife specimen at a distance no less than the length of the boat is allowed. Any other authorized boat that wishes to observe it must wait until the first one finishes its activities, granting a period of 30 minutes and waiting at a distance of 50 meters, or if both boats agree, they may take turns in conducting the activity, without exceeding the limits of people in the water around the specimen, likewise, a maximum of two immersions per person can be made;
X. Under no circumstances physical contact with the specimens of wildlife is allowed, so swimmers must maintain a minimum distance of five meters from the body of such specimens;
XI. Activities can only be carried out on smaller boats that meet the specifications indicated by the local Harbor Master and the Navy and must operate under optimal mechanical and safety conditions;
XII. The season for observation and swimming with the whale shark within the Reserve will be between May 15 and September 17 of each year;
XIII. The maximum number of boats that can conduct tourist tours within the Sustainable Use of Ecosystems Whale Shark Subzone (Mexican Caribbean Biosphere Reserve) will be a maximum of 120 boats per day with a maximum capacity of 10 people each, that is, 1,200 visitors daily;
XIV. The use of drones or Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) both aerial and aquatic within the Sustainable Use of Ecosystems Whale Shark Subzone for tourist-recreational activities is not allowed. For research, environmental education, and commercial purposes, the corresponding permit must be requested from the competent authorities, and
XV. All boats carrying out the activity of observation and swimming with the whale shark must use geolocation systems and propeller guards or propeller guards, the latter with the exception of jet propulsion engines. The provision in section XV of this Rule will not apply to those boats that are less than three years old prior to the entry into force of the present Management Program, or that at the same date their warranty has not yet expired. For the purposes of the provision in the previous paragraph, the date of entry into force of the Management Program will be considered the same as the Summary published in accordance with Article 66 of the LGEEPA, in the Official Gazette of the Federation. Boats intending to start operation after the entry into force of the present Management Program, must comply with the protection systems provided for in section XV of this Rule, without exception.
13. Within the Mexican Caribbean Biosphere Reserve, free diving in its apnea modality can be carried out as long as it does not interfere with the habits of marine species. Individuals practicing this modality of free diving are responsible for having the corresponding certification. In no case, the practice of free diving in the modality mentioned in the previous paragraph will be allowed in the Sustainable Use Subzone of Shark and Ray Ecosystems.
14. During the observation activities with bull sharks, the following indications must be followed:
I. Night diving for this activity will not be allowed;
II. The schedule for autonomous diving activities in their modalities: attraction and observation will be from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., not being able to be carried out simultaneously in both modalities;
III. A certification from a specialized guide to perform the observation dive with bull sharks will be required, as follows: diving instructor certification in the case of attraction guides, and dive master certification or equivalent in the case of observation guides;
IV. A contingency plan must be in place and the nearest medical attention location for this dive must be identified, which must be made known to visitors before carrying out the activity;
V. Specimens can only be attracted when the specialized guide has the corresponding authorization;
VI. Attractants must be solely fish products, coming from regional fisheries. The containers must be biodegradable;
VII. Attracting sharks outside the designated schedule and subzones for this purpose is not allowed;
VIII. Under no circumstances should any type of attractant or bait be thrown from the surface;
IX. Before immersion, the specialized guide will provide visitors with relevant information about safety measures, behavior rules, shark behavior, and the importance of their conservation;
X. Under no circumstances will the swimming circuit of sharks or their trajectory be blocked;
XI. Feeding, touching, harming, holding, capturing, or manipulating the shark or other species is not allowed. It must be ensured that visitors do not have direct contact with sharks and marine fauna in general;
XII. Visitors must comply with a dress code consisting of: a complete wetsuit, dark-colored boots or socks, and no knives or other attachments can be used. Only specialized guides and area staff may descend with other types of attachments, and
XIII. In the attraction dive, specialized guides must wear a special metal mesh suit for diving with sharks.
15. During the observation activities with mako sharks, the following indications must be followed:
I. The activities will be conducted from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and will only operate under optimal weather conditions;
II. Observation with mako shark can only be performed through cage diving, either surface or depth, with a maximum of four occupants per cage, per dive;
III. The boat must display a diving flag during the development of the activities;
IV. A specialized guide must be designated for each group of visitors, who will have experience and diving instructor certification;
V. Swimming and/or diving with mako shark outside the cage is strictly prohibited, without exception;
VI. For surface cages, only semi-autonomous hookah diving will be allowed, and air supply lines or hoses must be out of reach of the sharks;
VII. For the surface cage, users will not need a diving certification. If the cage is submerged, occupants must have at least a basic diving certification;
VIII. The use of knives, blades, or other attachments during dives is not allowed;
IX. Feeding, touching, harming, holding, capturing, or manipulating the shark or other species is not allowed;
X. The use of attractants for the observation activity with mako shark will require prior authorization issued by the competent authority, and can only be used by the boat staff;
XI. Attracting the mako shark with bait from the boat (which must be tied to a line or rope and thrown from port or starboard at the stern) is allowed. Offering any type of attractant, bait, or food to sharks from inside the observation cage is not permitted;
XII. Attractants can only be fish products from regional fisheries and in optimal condition for shark consumption;
XIII. Deploying or towing lures of any kind, using floating devices as baits, or pouring blood into the sea during observation activities is not allowed;
XIV. The crew member handling the bait line must release it as soon as the shark takes it with its snout, in case this action cannot be avoided in time;
XV. The bait line will be immediately retrieved from the water if the mako shark approaches within two meters of the cages;
XVI. Retrieving the bait near or above the cages is not allowed;
XVII. Any diver extending any body part out of the cage or attempting to exit the cage while it is submerged will immediately terminate their diving activity;
XVIII. If a shark persistently approaches the cages or behaves in a potentially dangerous manner for both passengers and the shark itself, the responsible operator must remove the divers from the cage and immediately remove the cages;
XIX. The cages must be made of stainless steel (or have been galvanized after construction) or a special aluminum alloy; welds must be smoothed to avoid sharp edges, and corners must be protected with special rubber material to prevent any damage to the sharks;
XX. The maximum gap between the bars of the cages must ensure that the shark cannot introduce any part of its body into the cages. The structural integrity of the cages must be periodically reviewed by a qualified engineer;
XXI. The cages must have an access door or entry on the top and must remain completely closed at all times, having a quick emergency evacuation device;
XXII. The boat must have at least two devices: manual, hydraulic, or electric, to retrieve its own cage into the boat;
XXIII. Once deployed in the water, the cages must be securely attached to the boat, in a way that guarantees the safety of the visitors;
XXIV. No pressurized apparatus or mechanism for shark observation (diving bells, small submarines, etc.) is allowed;
XXV. The captain and/or specialized guide will provide visitors with relevant information about safety measures, conduct norms, shark behavior, and the importance of their conservation before diving into the cage;
XXVI. Extreme safety measures must be implemented for the optimal development of cage diving activities, having a specific emergency plan for this dive that must be known by the visitors before carrying out the activity;
XXVII. The boat must have an oxygen cylinder and a complete first aid kit, and at least one crew member who has a valid first aid certification, including basic trauma management and oxygen use;
XXVIII. A cylinder of 80 ctf of fresh air equipped with an octopus regulator must be securely placed inside the cage and out of reach of the sharks, for emergency situations;
XXIX. In the event of any accident of any kind within the Biosphere Reserve, it must be reported to the Biosphere Reserve Management, Semar, and Profepa;
XXX. Boats other than those authorized by the Biosphere Reserve Management cannot be used;
XXXI. A place on the boat must be provided for Conanp personnel if required, always under prior notice, and
XXXII. At the end of the authorization's validity, an activity report must be submitted to the Biosphere Reserve.
16. Within the Biosphere Reserve, maritime signaling, navigation routes, and anchoring areas established by the competent authorities must be respected.
17. The use of boats cannot be carried out in shallow waters when the length, draft, and type of propulsion could affect the habitat or the species of flora and fauna.
18. Boats of private users, in transit, for assistance or rescue, as well as those for official use, do not require permission to transit within the Biosphere Reserve, however, the activities they perform are subject to the provisions established in the Management Program, prohibiting any tourist-recreational activity for profit without having the respective authorization from Conanp and other authorities in the matter.
19. Every boat providing tourist-recreational activities must carry on board a copy of its authorization issued by Conanp.
20. Boats with toilet facilities must have the appropriate containment tanks for wastewater and are responsible for ensuring their proper final disposal in accordance with current regulations.
21. Within the Biosphere Reserve, cleaning or maintenance activities of boats using chemical substances, or any other activity that could alter the ecological balance of the Protected Natural Area, cannot be performed. For fuel supply, necessary measures must be taken to prevent fuel spills into the sea. Ballast water discharge and bilge pumping are also not allowed, except in emergency situations, when it comes to larger vessels.
22. The repair of engines or other equipment that could result in the spill of fuels or oils can only be carried out in emergency cases and must avoid the spill of these substances in order not to damage the ecosystems.
23. All boats must eliminate the use of oils for waterproofing and must have appropriate devices to store polluting substances during their stay in the Biosphere Reserve, such as oils, fuels, or solid waste.
24. Anchoring of boats is only allowed in the nesting sites designated by the competent authorities for that purpose. Anchoring is only permitted in sandy areas, without causing disturbances to nearby seagrass areas or coral structures.
25. Only in emergency situations will it be allowed to anchor in areas with sandy bottoms, free of corals, ensuring that the boat remains fixed to the bottom, to prevent it from dragging.
26. Permitted activities can only be carried out on boats that meet the specifications indicated by the corresponding authorities and must operate under optimal mechanical, cleanliness, and safety conditions.
27. The construction of docks, jetties, breakwaters, groynes, piers, platforms, or any infrastructure, except for artificial reefs, that affects coral formations, seagrasses, dunes, or alters coastal dynamics, is prohibited.
28. During the exploitation of fishery resources, the structure of coral formations and the seabed must be respected and subject to the provisions of the Official Mexican Standard NOM-064-Sag/Pesc/Semarnat-2013, on prohibited capture systems, methods, and techniques in fishing in federal jurisdiction waters of the United Mexican States. Likewise, throughout the Biosphere Reserve, lionfish (Pterois volitans) capture activities may be carried out with the purpose of eradication, for which only the fishing art known as the Hawaiian sling or rubber band spear may be used, being prohibited the capture of any other species of flora and fauna, during such exploitation.
29. Fishermen may only use the fishing methods and equipment authorized by Sagarpa and must strictly adhere to what is established in the concession or permit and the applicable provisions for the subzone in which they intend to develop the activity.
30. Aquaculture may be carried out in subzones that provide for it, as long as the respective authorization from the corresponding agency is obtained. In the same manner, it can only be carried out with native species, avoiding the use of exotic species, including invasive ones.
31. Subsistence fishing may be carried out without profit motive and solely for the purpose of obtaining food for the person carrying it out and their dependents, therefore it cannot be subject to commercialization, and will be subject to the provisions of the General Law of Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture.
32. The sport-recreational fishing in its catch and release modality (catch and release, fly fishing or any other synonymous expression in a different language that has the same meaning) will consist of releasing all the specimens or captured individuals, such as marlin, sailfish, swordfish, tarpon, roosterfish, mahi-mahi, tuna, grouper, or any other species, so once captured, they must be returned to their natural environment in good survival conditions. This modality of sport-recreational fishing in its catch and release modality cannot be performed over shallow reef structures.
33. The installation of buoys or artificial reefs, and beach recovery projects, must be carried out without affecting seagrasses, coral reefs, coastal dunes, mangroves, or the interactions between ecosystems and the environmental services they provide. And without using structures that can be displaced or launched, in case of hydrometeorological events.
34. Projects for coastal protection, beach recovery, sand extraction, installation of artificial reefs, and their associated works must comply with the following:
I. Be part of comprehensive recovery projects, minimizing environmental impacts in adjacent areas;
II. Address a natural problem, supported by updated coastal dynamics studies which must consider at least the following: a. The energy in the system such as winds, sea level, local and deep sea currents, and extreme events; b. Physical characteristics of the system; c. Bathymetry and topography, including the shape of the coast and obstacles; d. Existing artificial structures, and their influence on wave energy dissipation, current modification, transport, and sediment availability; e. Sediments: volume/quantity, origin, and their characteristics; f. Present ecosystems, their conservation status, extension, and type of reefs, seagrasses, dunes as they are influencing factors in the coastal dynamics, and g. All these factors must be considered at an appropriate geographical spatial scale to understand the system's functioning and the impact of the proposed works on it;
III. Not affect or alter the nesting, reproduction, refuge, feeding, and nursery areas of wildlife species, especially those listed in any risk category, as well as not affect the feeding, transit, and reproduction of sea turtles and other species;
IV. Not affect the processes of coastal dynamics in the marine area, the beach-coastal dune system, the immediate area, and the area of influence;
V. Include a contingency program for any spill or other impacts on ecosystems;
VI. Artificial reefs cannot be placed on coral structures;
VII. Artificial reef projects must have a modification or dismantling plan in case the objectives for which they were installed are not met or if they generate negative effects in the immediate or adjacent area, and
VIII. Artificial reef installation projects for tourism purposes must have carrying capacity studies, trails, and signage.
35. Projects for the placement of artificial habitats and the works and activities associated with these projects must comply with the following indications:
I. Support the viability of the selected site for the project execution with the corresponding studies;
II. Not affect or alter the nesting, reproduction, refuge, feeding, and nursery areas of wildlife species, especially those listed in any risk category, as well as not affect the feeding, transit, and reproduction of sea turtles and other species;
III. Not affect the processes of coastal dynamics in the marine area, the beach-coastal dune system, the immediate area, and the area of influence;
IV. Include a contingency program for any spill or other impacts on ecosystems;
V. Artificial habitats cannot be placed on coral structures, and
VI. Artificial habitat installation projects for tourism purposes must have carrying capacity studies, trails, and signage.
36. For dredging works, measures must be implemented to minimize sediment dispersion and prevent damage to coastal and marine ecosystems, as well as carry out preventive actions for the management and disposal of dredged material.
37. The direct discharge of any type of waste substance, sewage, or drainage into water bodies, lagoons, or the sea is not allowed.
38. Activities for containing sargassum on beaches and the marine area will be subject to the applicable legal provisions.
39. For the conduct of regattas or nautical sports competitions in the Biosphere Reserve, the following conditions must be met:
I. They must not be carried out over shallow reef structures, grasslands, and areas of fauna aggregation;
II. The respective authorizations and permits from the corresponding authority in whose jurisdiction the activity will take place must be obtained;
III. The provisions established by the Harbor Master regarding specific safety provisions must be followed;
IV. The regatta between two or more sports boats can be rowing, sailing, or motor, always in compliance with the applicable regulations in force, and
V. The corresponding authorization must be requested from the Reserve Management in accordance with section I of restriction 2, as well as indicating the site where the event or activity is intended to be carried out, in which the corresponding safety measures must be indicated.
40. Fishing for parrotfish (Family Scaridae) is prohibited throughout the Biosphere Reserve.
41. The removal, filling, transplanting, pruning, or any work or activity that affects the integrity of the hydrological flow of the mangrove; its natural productivity; the natural carrying capacity of the ecosystem for tourism projects; nesting, reproduction, refuge, feeding, and nursery zones; or the interactions between the mangrove, rivers, dune, adjacent maritime zone, and corals, or that causes changes in the characteristics and ecological services, is prohibited.
42. Touching, standing on, damaging, altering, holding, supporting, or leaning on coral formations is prohibited.
43. The use of motorized boats in coves of the Biosphere Reserve is prohibited.
44. Within the Biosphere Reserve, the use of spearguns is prohibited, except for the use of the Hawaiian sling or rubber band spear for lionfish (Pterois volitans) fishing.
45. Within the Biosphere Reserve, fishing for any species of shark is prohibited, except for research and scientific monitoring purposes.

Allowed

Activities are allowed as indicated in each zone.