Sisal fishermen protest and close streets in Mérida

A group of Sisal fishermen held a protest in front of the Government Palace this Friday, to demand that the Yucatan authorities solve the problem caused by a ship that ran aground off the coast of that port last July.

Nearly 300 fishermen gathered in front of the Palace and requested an audience with the governor, Mauricio Vila Dosal. During the demonstration, the fishermen pointed out that the ship that ran aground was in the best fishing area, and they assured that now “there is nothing left”.

As we reported last week, Sisal fishermen complained of a severe reduction in fishing activity due to the grounding incident of that vessel.

They also said that the damage caused will affect them financially for several years, for this reason, they ask the authorities to grant them compensation.

Minutes after the start of the protest, state authorities agreed to talk with a commission of five representatives of the fishermen who are demonstrating, however, the protesters ask that ten representatives form the commission.

Access to vehicle traffic was closed on the roads that surround the Plaza Grande, both on 60th street between 61st and 62nd, where the protesters gathered.

On Sunday, July 23, the ship Grande Senegal ran aground on the shallows of the Madagascar reef, some 20 miles northeast of the port of Sisal, where it remained until Wednesday, August 2.

The salvage was in charge of the international company Smit Salvage American LCC, which with its equipment and three tugboats raised it for later transfer to the port of Progreso.

The rescue work was carried out from Tuesday, August 1, amid protests by fishermen from the Sisal riverside who, with about twenty boats, moved to the area of ​​the stranding.

TYT Newsroom