A Mexican marine conservation group filed an environmental complaint in 2025 against Elon Musk and SpaceX, alleging rocket booster debris from launches in South Texas is polluting the Gulf of Mexico and harming marine life.
Conibio Global A.C., a nonprofit focused on marine biodiversity, submitted the complaint to Mexican authorities after conducting field research during its “Expedition Booster 2025” project.
The group reported finding booster fragments on the seabed and along coastlines, which it said damaged habitats and posed risks to fish, marine mammals, sea turtles, and other species.
The organization requested that authorities investigate whether rocket stages or parts entered Mexican waters without authorization and determine compliance with environmental regulations. Conibio Global A.C. also urged regulators to require SpaceX to provide information on flight paths, splashdown zones, and debris recovery protocols.
Researchers documented conditions using vessels, underwater cameras, and material sampling, and plan to share their findings with Mexican environmental agencies.
Mexican authorities have not issued a public determination, and no enforcement action against SpaceX has been confirmed. SpaceX has not publicly responded. The Starbase launch facility in South Texas, used for Starship tests and launches, sends large first-stage boosters into planned descent paths over water. The complaint raises cross-border environmental concerns for shared marine areas in the Gulf.
