Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo — Five fishing cooperatives in Isla Mujeres need 6.1 million pesos to replace 30 outboard motors, according to former directors of two local fishing guilds.
Jorge Tun and Martín Puc, former leaders of the Makax and Isla Blanca fishing guilds, said the cooperatives require about 30 low-emission 60-horsepower outboard motors, each costing 204,000 pesos, for a total investment of 6.1 million pesos.
Baltazar Gómez, president of the Federation of Cooperatives of Quintana Roo, recently said the request had been submitted to the federal government along with other needs, because a sharp drop in lobster prices has left fishermen without enough income to buy new equipment.
Tun said he supports reviving a joint program among federal, state, and municipal governments to finance motors, boats, and fishing gear, similar to one launched more than 30 years ago in which beneficiaries paid 10 percent of the cost.
His own organization needs four motors, while the Caribe, Patria y Progreso, and Justicia Social cooperatives require more. In all, about 30 older motors are considered unsafe for navigation, though fishermen often help each other by towing vessels that break down.
The price of each motor depends on the exchange rate between the dollar and the peso.
Fishermen also need to replace at least 10 boats, 200 lobster traps, and 100 nets for fishing in the waters of Isla Contoy National Park.
Last year, each guild received 250,000 pesos in installments for dock repairs and other urgent needs.
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