Major progress: Loreto Deep-Sea port decree revoked

On May 25, the Official Gazette of the Federation (Diario Oficial de la Federación) published the repeal of the decree that modified Loreto's status as a deep-sea port.

Over the past days, many people have celebrated what has been described as a victory for “Loreto and its whales”.

While this repeal represents an important legal, environmental, and social milestone, it is essential to understand that Loreto is not fully protected yet.

This achievement was made possible through a collective effort involving community groups, citizen representatives, scientists, conservation organizations, local communities, legal actions, media coverage, the petition launched by our sister project Nakawe Project, and more than one million people who signed in support of protecting Loreto.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed.

However, the repeal of the decree simply returns us to the situation that existed before April 10. Loreto remains a coastal shipping port, and cruise ships can still transit and anchor within the Bahía de Loreto National Park, just as they have for decades. Large-vessel traffic and deep-water navigation continue to be possible within this ecologically sensitive area, allowing activities that have generated cumulative environmental impacts over the past 20 years in one of Mexico's most fragile and valuable marine ecosystems.

The consequences are already evident: impacts on protected species, disruption of marine habitats, increased pressure on natural resources, and ongoing risks to the ecological balance of the region.

The next crucial phase is the update of the Bahía de Loreto National Park Management Program. This process must establish stronger protections and create the foundation for the long-term conservation of this extraordinary living marine ecosystem.

To be effective, the updated management program must integrate science, local knowledge, and government authorities through collaborative working groups. It must address current and emerging pressures, particularly deep-water navigation, large-vessel traffic, anchoring activities, and associated offshore operations. Just as importantly, the program must not only be drafted but fully implemented through monitoring, inspections, enforcement, and ongoing protection of both resident and highly migratory species, as well as the communities that depend on this sea.

As part of a UNESCO World Heritage region, Loreto is connected to a living, fragile, and globally significant ocean ecosystem. Its protection remains a work in progress and will depend on sound science, effective implementation, strong oversight, and shared responsibility.

The work continues. We must remain engaged in working groups, continue gathering data on cetaceans and marine megafauna, and strengthen the scientific justification needed to secure lasting protections for Loreto Bay National Park.

We also call for respect for environmental law, the principles of prevention and ecological protection, and the right of communities and future generations to a healthy environment.

Loreto cannot continue to be treated as an uncontrolled tourism development zone.

Protection must be comprehensive, permanent, and definitive.

Please continue sharing, and staying informed through the organizations, researchers, scientists, and community members actively involved in this process in Loreto.

Future support and additional calls to action may still be needed as this work moves forward.

Thank you to everyone who signed, shared, spoke up, supported legal actions, raised awareness, or joined our regenerative tourism marine expeditions that have helped collect vital scientific data in Loreto over the years.

Today we have achieved an important step forward, but not the final goal.

Now more than ever, we must work harder and faster to ensure full protection for Loreto.

Your support helps make this work possible.