Veracruz Reef Park Sets Rules for Kayaking and Paddleboarding

Mexico’s National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) has reached agreements with tourism service providers to regulate kayak and stand up paddleboard activities in the Veracruz Reef System National Park, aiming to protect biodiversity while allowing controlled recreational use.

The agreements were finalized during a working session led by the park’s management office, which brought together federal, state, and municipal authorities alongside tourism operators. Participants included the Port Authority of Veracruz, representatives from Boca del Río’s commerce, civil protection, and integrated coastal management offices, the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA), and park and regional CONANP officials.

Under the agreements, tourism operators committed to complying with the distance and operational rules established in the park’s Management Program, the main regulatory instrument governing conservation and sustainable use of the protected area. Operators also agreed to begin formal regularization processes with relevant federal agencies, including obtaining permits required to conduct tourism activities within the protected area and authorizations related to the Federal Maritime-Terrestrial Zone (ZOFEMAT).

As part of the governance framework, the sector appointed a representative to act as a liaison between authorities and service providers, responsible for communicating agreements and following up on actions stemming from the working sessions.

The Management Program specifies permitted zones and conditions for non-motorized water activities. In the Public Use Subzone designated for beach activities, stand-up paddleboard tours are allowed within a 200-meter strip parallel to the shoreline. In the Public Use Subzone for coastal recreational activities, kayak tours are authorized within an 800-meter-wide area extending from the beach subzone, allowing operations up to 1,000 meters from the coastline.

CONANP said the dialogue advanced commitments focused on compliance with the park’s management framework and reinforced coordination between authorities and the private sector. The agency acknowledged the collaboration of federal, state, and municipal institutions, as well as business and community stakeholders.

According to CONANP, the ongoing objective is to improve the organization of tourism activities in the protected area, safeguard coral reefs and marine life, and ensure visitor safety under responsible-use guidelines.

These actions form part of CONANP’s broader goal to protect 30% of Mexico’s ecosystems by 2030. The so-called 30x30 roadmap includes 76 strategic short, medium, and long-term actions organized into five quantitative and qualitative elements: management effectiveness; equitable governance; surface area and zones of importance for biodiversity,  including representativeness and connectivity; contributions of Indigenous Peoples; and sustainable use. The plan involves multiple government sectors and social groups to strengthen the link between productive activities, conservation, and economic development.