Yucatan Fishermen Ready for Grouper Season

Fishermen in Yucatan are gearing up for the grouper fishing season, which officially begins on April 1st, following a two-month ban. The grouper fishing season is highly significant for the region's fishing industry. Despite concerns about potential tariffs that could affect the sale of their catch, the fishermen are hopeful and ready to set sail.

Enrique Sánchez Sánchez, president of the National Chamber of Fisheries and Aquaculture Industries (Canainpesca) in Yucatan, revealed that 90 percent of the fishing fleet is already docked and preparing to embark. He explained, "During February and March, the fleet was inactive due to the ban and to carry out maintenance work on the vessels. Now, everything is ready for us to start catching grouper."

Despite the uncertainty surrounding potential tariff adjustments, Sánchez Sánchez is optimistic about the market. The start of the season coincides with Holy Week, a time when seafood demand typically increases.

In support of the fishermen, the Yucatan Government has issued vouchers to 479 fishermen, investing 1.9 million pesos in the local community.

In other news, Joaquín Díaz Mena spearheaded the distribution of benefits from the "Respecting the Ban 2025" program in Telchac Puerto. Sánchez Sánchez commented, "Despite concerns about tariffs, we continue under the framework of the USMCA and we hope that there are no abrupt effects. The starting prices are good and the market looks stable."

Sánchez Sánchez recalled that around 4,000 tons of grouper were caught in 2023, but factors such as adverse weather, bans, and illegal fishing have affected production in recent years. "We trust that this year the conditions will favor us. Last year, hurricanes and bad weather complicated fishing; now we hope to have a better outlook," he added.

One of the ongoing challenges for the fishing industry is illegal fishing. However, Sánchez Sánchez assured that the authorities have increased their efforts to combat this issue. "We have noticed a decrease in illegal fishing compared to last year. The authorities are working on the issue and we trust that in April the State Fishing Council will be convened to strengthen inspection and surveillance actions," he said.