Stop fishing: Winds have stopped activity for several days

RÍO LAGARTOS.— For four days, fishing activity has been practically paralyzed in the ports of the eastern part of the state due to the effects of the north winds that have hit the coast, which keeps the boats anchored in the sea walls and sheltered ports.

Fishermen remain waiting for weather conditions to improve to resume going to sea.

According to reports from the cooperatives, they had barely recovered from the effects of the previous north when another frontal system began to enter the region again, which has complicated the capture work.

The octopus season, considered one of the most productive of the year, remains in force until December 15, but the intensity of the season’s winds significantly reduces fishing days.

In fact, during the months of August and September the best stage of the fishery was recorded, when good catches and favorable prices were reported that reached up to 100 pesos per kilo of octopus.

Thanks to this, many fishermen managed to save or invest in the maintenance of their homes before the arrival of the cold fronts, especially the seamen who live in police stations near Río Lagartos, San Felipe and El Cuyo, as they now invest in their plots or houses.

“We haven’t gone out to sea for four days now, the north is not helping us,” commented Manuel Massa Sánchez, a well-known fishing businessman from Río Lagartos.

“The climate is difficult and it is not worth the risk, fortunately the best season has already passed and many managed to take advantage of it, there were days when the boats returned between 50 and 70 kilos of octopus, even without going too far from the coast, and with the good price that the product had, they got away well in a single day of fishing,” he says.

Massa Sánchez added that, as long as time allows, some fishermen carry out scale fishing to cover their daily expenses, although he acknowledged that the current climate situation directly affects the economy of families that depend on the sea and are up to date.

Currently, boats remain stranded at the docks and fishermen spend their time maintaining motors and nets waiting for the weather to improve, which they believe will be next week.— WENDY UCÁN CHAN

Pulped

Fishing activity is subject to the impact of climatic and other events.

2024 experience

Adverse weather conditions (such as cold or northern fronts) are the most immediate factor of impact, drastically reducing effective fishing days. For example, in 2024 the authorities had to extend the season until December 31 so that fishermen could recover the production lost due to meteorological phenomena.

Stealth

Poaching is a critical factor. It is estimated that there are thousands of illegal fishermen in the state. They use harmful methods, such as the compressor for long-term illegal diving, or even the use of chlorine in the mollusk caves, even affecting the habitat.

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