Protect the Marine Terrestrial Zone

Puerto Rico’s beaches belong to the people, but a new bill proposed in the Puerto Rican legislature would threaten the coastal zone, public access to beaches, all while making it easier to develop in vulnerable coastal areas across the territory. The Zona Marítimo Terrestre (ZMT) defines not only the parameters of Puerto Rico’s unique coastal zone, but also bestows access to those beaches to the public. Surfrider’s Puerto Rico network and Rincon Chapter are fighting back to protect the ZMT and public beach access from attacks.

Protecting the ZMT as it is currently defined is important to the culture and livelihoods of the Puerto Rican people. It allows for free access to beaches and coastal areas by residents and tourists alike, supporting a vibrant coastal recreation based tourism economy and outdoor recreation space. It is also an important buffer zone against future climate impacts, preventing development in areas that will be subject to increasing erosion and impacts due to climate change is of utmost importance. PC25 will irrevocably alter the coastal zone, weakening existing protections, limiting public access, and ultimately shrinking a zone that we know should increase as the impacts of climate change accelerate.

Puerto Rican lawmakers introduced a barrage of bills to incentivize development across the island, flooding the zone with legislation that aims to weaken the public’s ability to fight back against harmful development decisions, particularly along the coast. Surfrider’s Puerto Rico network has been working with partners across the archipelago to speak out in public hearings against the bill, educating the public at beach cleanups and mangrove restoration events about the measure, and launching key activations to advocate against this harmful bill with members of the Senate and Assembly.

Puerto Rico’s beaches belong to the people, and Surfrider is working to ensure that the ZMT and access to it are protected for years to come.