Yucatán coast loses up to 100 m of beach in four decades

A technical study commissioned by the Yucatán state government finds that the region’s shoreline has receded dramatically. Between 1980 and 2019 the coast lost an average of 19 metres of sand, with some high‑risk locations such as Chelem, Chuburná and Chicxulub retreating up to six metres per year. Satellite images show that at Telchac Puerto the shoreline has moved inland by as much as 100 metres.

Scientists attribute the erosion to a combination of factors: rising Gulf of Mexico sea levels (2‑4 mm per year), natural and induced subsidence, reduced riverine sediment supply, and the impact of recent extreme weather, including Hurricane Milton and the local “chikin ic” northerly winds that generate strong wave action. Rapid coastal development has also weakened natural defenses – about 27 % of the Yucatán shoreline hosts buildings within 10 metres of the water, and the removal of dunes and mangroves for condominiums has eliminated key buffers. The pending report will guide a science‑based recovery plan for affected beaches such as the Progreso boardwalk.