OPERA IRREGULARLY DOLPHINARIUM

COMPLAINT THAT OPERATES A DOLPHINARIUM IRREGULARLY MOON PALACE HOTEL IN QUINTANA ROO

CANCUN, MX.- civil society organizations requested the Chief of Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) in Quintana Roo deny the Environmental Impact Authorization to Dolphin Holding SA de C.V. to the Dolphinarium Dolphin Discovery Riviera Cancun, which was built two years irregularly and now seeks permission.

Also, through a press release, made an appeal to the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) so that, consistent with the actions recently undertaken to fully close the Dragon Mart project proceed against a work that has violated the criminal complaint also relevant environmental and present legislation.

Since October 2012, the Mexican Environmental Law Center filed a complaint with the Ministry of Public Administration, contrary to the Delegate of SEMARNAT in the state of Quintana Roo, Gabriela Lima Laurents, for illegally exempt the Moon Palace hotel Cancun from the obligation to submit the corresponding Environmental Impact Demonstration for the construction of six docks at the Reef Puerto Morelos National Park [1].

The Hotel Moon Palace subsequently requested a NO REQUIREMENT of EIA, arguing that the works intended to be performed were for the rehabilitation of works that were built at the time and whose permission was granted in 1997 [2 ], when in fact it was not about that but a completely new work that required a specific federal permit.

The authorized works [3] does not correspond to what was intended to rehabilitate and consisted of the construction of a footbridge three meters wide and three hundred and thirty long. Nor is contemplated that at the end of it, will be placed four bands docking rectangular two seventy-five feet long and two to forty-eight by ten feet wide, much less construction is contemplated six innerspring one meter twenty centimeters wide by twenty meters long and two springs of one meter 20 centimeters wide by forty meters long. (...) Or any work or similar activity.

This work proved a dolphinarium built irregularly, without authorization Environmental Impact, so the January 31, 2013 was presented the corresponding Appeal and Review December 10, 2012 complaint was filed with Profepa.

Alejandra Serrano, director of the Southeast CEMDA office, said "the delegate of SEMARNAT in Quintana Roo violated applicable law by illegally issuing the Notice of Requirement to no other than as described in the project and caused an environmental impact on the area works Natural Protected with the character of National Park, Arrecife de Puerto Morelos ".

The Dolphin Discovery Riviera Cancun project involves the operation of a dolphinarium where dolphins of the species Tursiops truncatus will house, in order to perform management activities, exhibition, recreation, environmental education, research and interaction with humans.

"Therefore, we appeal to you, in the spirit of ensuring the protection of marine life, compliance with the relevant legislation is monitored in all the works that deal with the impact on the ecosystem and the impact on the environment environment; and the corresponding administrative and criminal penalties for such legislation is violated apply. " (Source: CEMDA)