Posted on February 2, 2026
Chetumal, Q.R. — The Secretaría de Marina (Semar) says once their environmental impact assessment is approved, they will continue dredging of the Zaragoza Canal. Semar began work on the canal more than four years ago and are waiting for an approved environmental impact statement (MIA).
During 2023, the on-again off-again project hit a dredging snag when authorities learned part of the barrier reef is located at the entrance of the canal. That reef is a protected natural area and is restricting dredging.
Antonio Muñoz Hernández, Commander of the 11th Naval Zone said Semar is ready to restart the project, but are waiting for environmental approval. In order to move forward, the Semar was forced to come up with a new plan to make the canal both wider and deeper.
Commander Hernández says to work around the reef, they intend to use rotary hammers and percussion systems, in what is recognized as an ecologically sensitive area.
He says they decided on tools and not explosives when modifying their dredging technique.
“What we, as the naval zone have to do, is start making the extensions to the MIA timeframes and also the modifications to the dredging technique that had been put in place at the beginning,” he explained.
Antonio Muñoz Hernández
State official have been working on expanding both the width and depth of the canal in hopes of attracting large ships for both commercial and tourism purposes.
