Environmental groups in Puerto Vallarta are speaking out against the Jalisco state government’s plans to construct two new piers along the municipal coastline—one in Mismaloya and another at Camarones Beach. Just a week after Governor Pablo Lemus announced the start of construction in Mismaloya, five organizations have called a press conference for Friday, May 2, to express their concern, warning that the projects pose a serious threat to the region’s marine biodiversity.

In a joint statement issued by the Mexican Pacific Manta Project, the Marine Mammal Research Group (GRIMMA), the Wildlife Research and Conservation Group (GICOFF), the Whale Ecology and Conservation Group (ECOBAC), and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the organizations call for public action under the slogan: “Let’s protect the marine biodiversity of Banderas Bay.”

These civil associations, dedicated to years of research and conservation in Banderas Bay, emphasize that the area serves as a vital habitat for protected species such as whales, oceanic manta rays, and sea turtles.

“Our research has shown that these species depend on the bay for feeding, reproduction, and migration,” the statement reads. “They also provide significant ecological, social, and economic benefits to the region.”

The groups warn that the proposed “nautical ladder” and increased boat traffic from new dock infrastructure could put these species at serious risk, endangering both biodiversity and the local tourism industry, which sustains thousands of families in the area.

At the upcoming press conference, organizers plan to present key findings on:

  • The ecological and economic value of marine megafauna in the bay

  • The current impact of nautical traffic

  • Official documents already submitted to the governors of Jalisco and Nayarit, Pablo Lemus and Miguel Ángel Navarro, and to the mayors of Puerto Vallarta and Bahía de Banderas, Luis Munguía and Héctor Santana

Biologist Astrid Frisch Jordán, president of ECOBAC, echoed the concerns on social media:

“We are deeply worried about the future of marine life in Banderas Bay. Caring for our megafauna is a shared responsibility. We must work toward a system that avoids collisions and respects the natural habitat of whales, manta rays, turtles, and other species.”

Frisch specifically criticized the Las Peñas pier project as part of a broader concern over the environmental impact of unchecked coastal development.