Debate Over Sunken Ship Reef Sparks Cleanup Surge on Costa Mar Beaches

On Tuesday the Costa Mar Reef Monitoring Network released its weekly cleanup tally for Playa Verde and Playa Azul, showing 4,200 kilograms of plastic and 1,150 kilograms of nutrient‑laden runoff removed – a 22 percent increase over the previous week and the highest total of the year.

At the same time the Marine Ministry announced a proposal to sink the decommissioned cargo vessel El Dorado off the southern reef, arguing that the hull would provide a permanent artificial habitat for coral, sponges and schooling fish, and could become a new attraction for eco‑tourists.

Local dive cooperative leader Carlos Méndez and the NGO Oceano Vivo have voiced concerns about possible contaminants in the ship’s ballast and fuel tanks, while the Puerto Azul Hotel Association argues the reef could diversify the tourism product and extend the high‑season stay rate.

A public hearing is scheduled for 28 November at the municipal auditorium, and the next few weeks will decide whether El Dorado will join the ocean floor or remain on the dock, a choice that may also shape the momentum of the recent beach‑cleanup campaign.