The leatherback sea turtle, the largest in the world, has found a key refuge on Las Cocinas beach, located in Punta de Mita, Nayarit, to lay its eggs and thus perpetuate its species, which dates back more than 100 million years.
This sanctuary, vital for this turtle that measures more than 2 meters and weighs up to 900 kg, now faces serious risks due to real estate projects that threaten to privatize Nayarit’s last free beach. But it’s not just the turtles; those who fight to protect them and the surrounding area are also at risk.
The defense of Las Cocinas beach has been characterized by one very specific aspect: the criminalization of the community. The state of Nayarit issued arrest warrants and opened investigations against eight residents who participated in a demonstration on April 27, 2026, to defend the beach. These files, still active at the time of publication, put them at risk, criminalize them, and violate their rights.
In an interview with Infobae Mexico, Efraín López, spokesperson for the Battle for the Beach movement and one of the eight defenders being persecuted, stated that the situation they face has escalated to a point where, to resolve it, the intervention of Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum is required.
“The federal government needs to intervene now,” he asserted after recounting how what began with dialogue and peaceful demonstrations ended with repression and violence against the community.
