Coastal development: construction of a public policy for the shores and seas of Mexico

Mexico’s privileged geographic position, territorial extension, varied physiography, and climatic diversity have given the country an unparalleled biological wealth, both marine and terrestrial, as well as many natural areas not seen anywhere else in the world. Marine and coastal areas strongly contribute to this environmental wealth and favor the existence of diverse productive activities that, in turn, benefit Mexico’s economic development (i.e., ports; petroleum extraction, storage and transport areas; tourism activities; mining; and fishing and aquaculture). Unfortunately, the lack of a multisector and articulated long-term, sea-focused vision has resulted in a chaotic development that has damaged the coastal zones and plundered the marine areas. No coastal city has managed to take advantage of the natural resources and ecosystems in a sustainable way nor been able to incorporate as a social, economic, and cultural asset the exploitation of coastal and marine areas