Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco – On Wednesday, June 4, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., environmental advocates, families and friends will gather at Holi Beach—next to La Isla Shopping Village—for the Greenpeace Giant Kite Festival. The event invites participants to take to the skies with oversized kites shaped like sea turtles, manta rays, whales and other marine creatures, sending a vivid message above Banderas Bay: it’s time to protect our oceans.
Greenpeace, the global environmental organization founded in 1971, organizes this festival as part of its ongoing campaign to raise awareness of the critical state of the world’s oceans. “Our oceans face unprecedented threats—from plastic pollution and overfishing to warming waters and acidification,” said Mariana López, Greenpeace Mexico’s ocean campaign coordinator. “This festival gives communities a fun, hands-on way to show their support for marine life and demand urgent policy changes.”
Attendees will receive kits to assemble and decorate giant marine-life kites. Once the kites are airborne, the scene over the Pacific will transform into a living mural: dozens of turtles gliding through the air, manta rays glinting in the sunset, and whales breaching the sky. Greenpeace volunteers will guide younger participants, ensuring safe launches and recoveries while sharing facts about how each species is threatened by climate change, habitat loss and pollution.
Highlighting Global Ocean Risks
- Plastic Pollution: Each year, an estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic enter the oceans, choking marine life and degrading habitats. Sea turtles mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, seals ingest microplastics, and seabirds starve with bellies full of debris.
- Climate Change and Acidification: The ocean absorbs about 30% of human-made carbon dioxide. As CO₂ levels rise, seawater pH drops, impairing coral growth and threatening shell-forming organisms. Coral reefs—which support 25% of marine species—face mass bleaching events and die-offs.
- Overfishing and Habitat Loss: Nearly 90% of big fish populations have declined in the last half-century. Destructive fishing practices destroy seafloor habitats, while coastal development and pollution erode critical nursery grounds for fish and invertebrates.
Greenpeace’s Call to Action
Greenpeace leverages high-visibility events like the Greenpeace Giant Kite Festival to pressure governments and corporations to:
- Reduce Single-Use Plastics by implementing bans and promoting reuse.
- Establish Marine Protected Areas covering at least 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.
- Enforce Sustainable Fishing with science-based quotas and eliminate destructive gear.
- Cut Carbon Emissions in line with the Paris Agreement to curb warming and acidification.
“Visual activism like kite flying sparks conversation,” López noted. “When people see these giant marine creatures above the water, they remember what we stand to lose—and why we must act now.”
Local Engagement in Banderas Bay
Banderas Bay boasts vibrant coral reefs, mangrove estuaries and a diversity of marine mammals, including humpback whales that migrate here each winter. Yet, rapid coastal development and tourist pressures have increased sewage runoff and boat traffic, stressing these ecosystems. The festival partners with local dive shops and community groups to offer beach cleanups before and after the event, ensuring Holi Beach stays pristine.
Families are encouraged to arrive early to join a free micro-plastic sweep on the sand or attend a brief “Ocean 101” talk by marine biologists from Universidad de Guadalajara’s Puerto Vallarta campus. Organizers recommend sun protection, reusable water bottles and comfortable shoes for those who wish to explore nearby tide pools after kite flying.
How to Participate
- Registration: Free at the Greenpeace booth on-site; no advance signup required.
- Materials Provided: Kite frames, marine-themed sails, string and instructions.
- What to Bring: Eco-friendly snacks, shade umbrella, camera and a spirit for fun.
- Accessibility: The beach area is wheelchair accessible, and volunteers will assist those with mobility needs.
Local officials, including Puerto Vallarta’s environmental director, will attend to endorse ocean-friendly policies. “Community events like this remind us that protecting our bay matters to everyone,” said Director José Ramírez. “Greenpeace’s creative approach resonates far beyond today’s kites.”
As the festival wraps at 7:00 p.m., participants will line up along the shoreline for a closing lantern release—each lantern symbolizing a pledge to protect our seas. Greenpeace will collect pledges to deliver to state and federal authorities, adding local voices to its global petition for stronger ocean safeguards.
In an era of mounting environmental risks, the Greenpeace Giant Kite Festival offers a moment of hope and unity. By elevating marine giants into the sky, Puerto Vallarta’s community takes a stand: our oceans deserve protection, today and for generations to come.
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco – On Wednesday, June 4, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., environmental advocates, families and friends will gather . . .
