The Gulf of Mexico Reef Corridor Network demanded that the Federal Government stop works for the expansion of the Altura Port of Veracruz. During a public surveillance tour of the area surrounding the La Gallega reef, in Veracruz, the network found that the Secretariat of the Navy (SEMAR) began construction of the second breakwater in the port expansion project, right on the La Gallega reef.
In a statement, they reported that as part of the works, tons of rock are being thrown directly onto the base of the living reef. This will affect not only life on the reef, but will cause its total sedimentation due to the modification of marine currents, as has been demonstrated by scientific studies. They also pointed out that the stone used comes from a quarry in Mozomboa, in the municipality of Actopan, which is not documented in the environmental impact assessments submitted for the Port expansion project.
24 hours a day, it is possible to observe the arrival of trucks with hundreds of tons of rocks that are being accumulated to be deposited on the reef. The network added its concern, “because the impacts of these actions are incalculable and will be irreversible once the construction of the breakwater progresses.”
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On the other hand, on July 9, 2026, the Secretariat of the Navy notified the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) of the start of construction activities for phase II of the “Expansion of the Port of Veracruz in the Northern Zone” project, in accordance with letter ASIPONAVER G.I./0757/2026.
The notification was submitted by the Administration of the Veracruz National Port System (Asipona Veracruz) to inform about the start of the works, in compliance with a condition established in the environmental authorization of the project. The document states that the company should inform Semarnat about the restart and conclusion of the different stages of the work, as well as about the authorized activities.
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Port impact study
The Network maintains that the construction of the breakwater will modify marine currents and will generate sedimentation over La Gallega. To support this warning, he shared a study published in the journal Environmental Management, prepared by V. Valadez-Rocha and L. Ortiz-Lozano, which analyzed the effects of a century of port expansion on the shallow reefs of the Veracruz Reef System.
The study documented three types of impacts associated with port expansion: direct loss of reef surface due to landfills and coastal structures, reef fragmentation, and long-term changes in coastal dynamics that can cause sedimentation and loss of reef areas.
In the case of La Gallega, researchers estimated that between 1907 and 2007 the reef lost 97.18 hectares, equivalent to 49.13% of its surface. The work attributed the loss to port expansion projects and noted that landfills and coastal protection structures replaced shallow reef surface.
The same study presented a scenario for the planned expansion of the Port of Veracruz in 2009. The model considered two breakwaters, one of 4.4 kilometers and the other of 3.6 kilometers, in addition to filling and dredging. The authors pointed out that these works would modify the configuration of the coast and would produce changes in the littoral transport of sediments. For La Gallega, the scenario contemplated an area of sedimentation between the southern breakwater and the reef, with an accumulation of sediment on the remaining reef surface.
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The bulletin also notes that in 2022 the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation ordered the suspension of port expansion works, according to the Network's interpretation, because the project had not comprehensively considered its impacts on reefs and other coastal ecosystems.
The organization states that, although the works remain officially suspended, the Secretariat of the Navy began expansion work on La Gallega. It also asks environmental authorities to investigate the works, review environmental impact permits and clarify Semarnat's response to the notification submitted on July 9.
La Gallega is part of the Veracruz Reef System, recognized as a National Park, Ramsar Site and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. According to the Network, the reef is home to corals, sea turtles and other species, in addition to contributing to the protection of the coast of Veracruz, Boca del Río and Alvarado.
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