Grouper catch fell considerably during the 2021 season in Yucatan

Fishermen report a significant drop in the capture of grouper in Yucatán, which has generated concern in the social sectors that depend on this product.

Merida, Yucatan, (December 20, 2021).- José Luis Carrillo Galaz, president of the Federation of Cooperative Fisheries Societies of the Center and West of Yucatán, warned that the volumes of the capture of this species of scale are lagging, which set off the alarms before a possible fall in the production of this fish, considered the mainstay for this sector in the State.

-With regard to grouper, we are well below the average. We end the season with just 3,600 tons, which represents a very low volume compared to the 5 thousand, 6 thousand that we must have per season. This is an indication that we have problems in the fishery and we must work in coordination with the different levels of government – he explained.

It was reported that a large part of the problem facing the grouper fishery is poaching or illegal capture of the species, which would be exacerbated when most of the fishermen get involved in obtaining this product, once the season of octopus catch is over.

“One of the points in favor of seafarers who have had the grouper fishing season is the price at which the species is has reached, which is up to 250 pesos per kilo of black grouper and 220 pesos per kilo of red grouper, and this obviously means an incentive for fishermen.

However, the leader of the fishing sector insists that it is urgent to rescue the fishery since it is in a crisis of lack of product, from which it seems to have no way out.

– Season after season, the grouper is being impacted, we have to do something, we need to have a strategic recovery program where all the actors are: fishermen, businessmen, and government institutions. We have to propose, especially on the issue of the budget, to invest in inspection and surveillance and to invest in research that are the results of a recovery program – he pointed out.

The catch of grouper should end in the first quarter of 2022, to enter into a ban for two months, with a view to recovering the product so that fishing can resume after that period of time.

Global warming could be playing an important role in this situation too.