The Fisheries Administrator Has the Final Say in Cayo Rosario

Miguel Alamilla

But even with the green light, is there still an opportunity to stop the project – at least when it comes to the over-the-water structures that will be erected within the protected area? Director Miguel Alamilla, who is the former manager of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and was instrumental in the expansion of the protected area, says that the buck stops with the Fisheries Administrator. Alamilla says the Fisheries Administrator has the legal authority to give the final nod of approval.

Miguel Alamilla, Director, A.C.C.S.D.

“Well the court has given a ruling and we have a right to appeal up to the twenty-eighth of this month. So we are looking at that, but also the court gave a ruling on the issuance of the environmental compliance plan that the NEAC has given to the developer. They still have to apply for several other permits: building permits, dredging, whatever other permits they need for the development. Now the over-the-water structure is happening inside a protected area and this protected area has a legislation attached to it. So the bottom-line is that the management of the marine reserve, they have a board—it is also under the Fisheries Act so the Fisheries Department has oversight of that marine reserve—they have the last say. They say yes or no. As the legislation is written, the fisheries administrator has the authority to authorize or not authorize any development within that protected area.”