Cozumel Marine Park Rules

[Fish Finder Girl]

Can anyone find the current Cozumel Marine Park rules? The last time I looked several years ago, it included "no fishing," and "no anchoring" in the park, but I recently saw one that didn't include either of these rules. Curious... we were there a couple of weeks ago for 2 weeks and noticed a boat fishing for a couple of hours in the evening in front of Scuba Club Cozumel, and another tiny boat on a different day at Villa Blanca fishing in mid afternoon. In the last 18 years, we have never seen this happening - why now?

We mentioned it to locals, but no one seemed to be able to tell us what we should do about it, or who to report it to. Everyone had a different idea about the boundaries of the park as well. They claimed that the Marine Park Police were out daily, but we never saw them.

I'm concerned not only for the safety of divers, but for the marine park itself. In addition, we are paying $2 a day for a bracelet that should provide some kind of protection for the park?

 

[northernone]

There's illegal fishing daily in the park. Those paid (or paid off) to protect it are uninterested.

That said, the marine park is south of town. Begins just past the cruise port.

Full details and contact info: Sitios Ramsar - CONANP

 

[gopbroek]

I occasional see the park boat being launched (or more accurately the engine being worked on) at the marina, usually on a weekend. Sundays are a good day for parading in a manly manner. I was checked for wrist bands once about three years ago at the now deserted Palancar pier but other than that I haven't seen them on the water much.

 

[Basscat]

Scuba Club is definitely north of the Park boundary, and I think Villa Blanca would be too, although close, so those may have been OK. But I have too often seen broken off fishing line in the park, so it is a problem.

 

[JamesBon92007]

They claimed that the Marine Park Police were out daily, but we never saw them.

Rumor has it that they visit the dives boats when we are underwater. I've never seen them either.

 

[BRT]

Rumor has it that they visit the dives boats when we are underwater. I've never seen them either.

Everybody on the wall isn't underwater at the same time.

 

[scubafanatic]

Rumor has it that they visit the dives boats when we are underwater. I've never seen them either.

That's very polite of them, to not disturb the divers and all. I was thinking they just used the nearest Starship transporter beam to beam on and off without the divers noticing.

 

[ggunn]

Scuba Club is definitely north of the Park boundary, and I think Villa Blanca would be too, although close, so those may have been OK. But I have too often seen broken off fishing line in the park, so it is a problem.

Villablanca is outside the marine park by 1/4 to 1/2 mile.

 

[Christi]

There is definitely still no fishing allowed in the park but we have poachers. The park bracelet is an "entrance fee" - "permission" to dive in the park.

Our Dive Shop Association is in the final phases of becoming an official and legal Association. Only LEGAL operations and boats with all permits, insurance, business licenses, etc. are members of our Association - at last count, were 34 shops strong . More will be revealed

Trust me when I say, things are going to get better. We have many issues on our agenda to tackle.

 

[WetInPortland]

There's illegal fishing daily in the park. Those paid (or paid off) to protect it are uninterested.

That said, the marine park is south of town. Begins just past the cruise port.

Full details and contact info: Sitios Ramsar - CONANPView attachment 461043

Do you recall how you found this map? The link is now dead.