Yucatán cenotes face environmental scrutiny over DJ parties

Social media videos showing electronic music parties with DJs and artificial lighting inside cenotes in the Yucatán Peninsula have sparked controversy and calls for environmental investigations. The events, reportedly organized by the group Mérida Worldwide, have drawn criticism for potentially damaging delicate karst ecosystems.

Critics and social media users are calling for interventions by Mexico's Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat). The primary concerns involve the impact of noise and artificial light on endemic species, such as blind fish and crustaceans, as well as the potential for chemical contamination from sunscreens and body waste to enter the Maya Aquifer, one of the world's largest underground water systems.

Conservation guidelines for the region advise against the use of speakers, loud music, and shouting to prevent disrupting the behavior, communication, and reproduction of local fauna.