Stab Magazine | Are The Efforts To Save One Of Salina Cruz's Finest Waves Futile?
639 Views

Are The Efforts To Save One Of Salina Cruz’s Finest Waves Futile?

With Punta Conejo under threat of development, surfers are sounding the war cry to save this Mexican beauty.

news // Jul 11, 2019
Words by stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Efforts to save pristine Punta Conejo continue to ramp up in Mexico. As soon as the unexpected news broke nearly two months ago of a proposed development, surfers, fishermen, environmentalists and local business owners sprang into action. After meeting with Mexican officials to determine the exact nature of the planned development, a war cry has been sounded out around the world. 

With confirmation that there is a “development plan for the Isthmus of Tehuantepec,” U.S.-based environmental group Save The Waves has joined in the fight. Teaming up with other groups, including Reservas de Surf Mexico, A.C., Wildcoast, and Union de Surfistas y Salvavidas de Salina Cruz, A.C., they’ve been meeting with government officials, as well as circulating a petition (that you should definitely sign).

“Punta Conejo is a national treasure and should be protected,” Mara Arroyo, Save The Wave’s Mexico Regional Manager, said in a prepared statement. “While we recognize that a port expansion in the area may be necessary, we implore that the authorities pursue other viable project alternatives and recognize the cultural, biological, and economic resources that Punta Conejo provides.”

Situated in the wave-rich Salina Cruz zone in Oaxaca, which was seared into the surf world’s collective consciousness with the historic Rip Curl Search contest at Barra De La Cruz in 2006, the development plan is wide-ranging in its scope and “integrates the construction of the Interoceanic Corridor connecting the ports of Coatzacoalcos, in Veracruz, and Salina Cruz, in Oaxaca, and the introduction of new coastal infrastructure in Salina Cruz.”

“One of the concerns for the local community and the global surfing community is that the area proposed for the new industrial port will impact not only the surf break, but important ecosystems, including Playa Azul, Playa Brasil and the Salinas del Marqués lagoon,” explained Save The Waves.

Both Save The Waves and local surfers are clear-eyed about the need for some kind of development and improved infrastructure in the area to help with job creation and to bolster the local economy. They aren’t seeking to halt the development altogether, but rather find a more suitable location for it that won’t impact the surf or the wildlife. 

“The local community recognizes the importance of a new port for Mexico but asks the government to explore other alternatives that avoid significant impacts for local ecosystems and waves,” Save The Waves explains. “The community and environmental conservation groups seek to establish a dialogue with the government to explore alternatives for this project.”

There can be a positive outcome in this situation. It’s going to take hearty dialog, but hopefully all concerned parties can reach some sort of agreement that is beneficial to everyone.

Punta Conejo is too good of a wave, to idyllic a spot to go down without a fight. 

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

What Surfing Should Learn From The Winter Olympics

Thank fuck that’s not us!

Feb 22, 2026

World Champs And WSL President Reject Surfing’s New Olympic Qualification System, Demand Revisions From ISA

Yago Dora, Caity Simmers, Ryan Crosby and more take a stand.

Feb 21, 2026

Hemp In The Athlete Zone, Pipe Master On Hypto Kryptos, Freesurfers Monetize Loneliness

This is the new order of operations — a Q1 industry report.

Feb 20, 2026

“It Was Like the Fourth of July. The Kitchen Sink’s Shattering. The Curtains Are On Fire. I Was Just Swimming Though Black Smoke.”

Kolohe Andino recalls the Gold Coast apartment fire that almost took everything.

Feb 20, 2026

Watch: Dane Reynolds Quizzes The Reigning World Champ | StabMic Episode 02

Yago Dora on his title year, the Volcom x Dad split, EAST over SITD, CT…

Feb 19, 2026

What I Learned Shooting Stab in the Dark with Kelly Slater

These innocuous observations from 11 days working with the greatest surfer of all time. 

Feb 18, 2026

Why Aren’t There More European Freesurfers?

Charly Quivront's new film, 'Who Is Charly?,' helps explain it.

Feb 18, 2026

Ferrari Boyz: Mikey Wright’s Apocalypse-Proof Ram 3500 Mega Cab

A daily driver with a 9-ton towing capacity.

Feb 17, 2026

Kurt Van Dyke, Renowned Californian Surfer, Brutally Murdered in Costa Rica

The 66-year-old was discovered under his bed with multiple stab wounds and a knife nearby.

Feb 17, 2026

Rebuttal: Never Stop Watching Surf Movies 

Social media makes us anxious and depressed. Surf content does not.

Feb 16, 2026

How Italo Ferreira Bought His Way Into Nike, The Reality Of Fatherhood, And Embracing Global Scrutiny

The Stab Interview with the most sleep-deprived man in surfing.

Feb 13, 2026

Will A GOAT Bite On Gnaraloo’s $17 Million Price Tag?

World Champs and Hollywood circle a red-dirt kingdom that can never truly be owned.

Feb 13, 2026

Dane Reynolds On His Favorite Surfer, Storytelling Through Surf Media, And Releasing Former’s New Film

Our first official episode of StabMic is live. 

Feb 12, 2026

Watch: Episode 03 of Stab In The Dark X Starring Kelly Slater

The untold story behind the GOAT’s split from CI + a three-layer wax cake theory.

Feb 11, 2026

Why You Should Stop Watching Surf Videos*

Instagram reels and the twisted fantasy of the parasocial surfing life.

Feb 9, 2026

Breaking: Rogue Boat Plows Through Steamer Lane, Capsizes With Family Of Six Onboard

Stab writer Holden Trnka saves a kid, gives a first hand report.

Feb 8, 2026

Watch: How $13M And 70,000 Tons Of Granite Changed An Australian Surf Town Forever

A documentary on Midds Reef — the world's best artificial wave — by Rhys Jones.

Feb 7, 2026

Pipeline Was Really, Really Good Today

CT qualifications, countless nine point rides, Australian domination, and the journey of a local hero.

Feb 6, 2026
Advertisement