Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Fishermen in Playa del Carmen fear that upcoming sargassum arrivals could ruin the highly anticipated Lent season, a 40-day period that brings the most significant economic boost to the sector each year.
Santos Lorenzo Cat, president of the Playa del Carmen Tourist Cooperative, said good weather is expected in the Riviera Maya in the coming days, which should lead to better fishing conditions.
However, he acknowledged concerns that the first major sargassum influx could begin by mid-March, potentially derailing plans for a strong economic season.
He noted that Playa del Carmen fishermen are already reporting high demand for their products, with reservations at 80 percent.
“It looks promising. Reservations are at 80 percent, but we also depend on the bad weather of sargassum during the southern winds. We’re thinking it could affect us,” he added.
Lorenzo said projections indicate demand could exceed 60 percent compared to the same period last year.
He pointed out that their main customers are currently restaurants and hotels in the city, with the general population as a secondary market.
Lent is a 40-day period that, according to Catholic tradition, is dedicated to preparation, purification, and reflection before Holy Week. During this time, fish is typically consumed as a form of abstinence and sacrifice in honor of Jesus’ passion and death, avoiding red meat that symbolizes his body in Catholic tradition. This period of Catholic observance will conclude on Thursday, April 2.
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