In the early days of the fishing ban, business owners from the fishing sector reported illegal fishing activities along the Yucatan coast.
Ana María Pech Chacón, president of the Union of Fishing Shipowners, explained that fishermen illegally catch grouper and octopus through diving. These products are then sold to restaurants and freezers, and even marketed through social media platforms.
Pech Chacón highlighted the prices on the black market:
– White snails: around 800 pesos per kilogram
– Fresh grouper: between 200 and 350 pesos
– Octopus: between 150 and 180 pesos
The grouper ban has led to a significant increase in the price of the species and has driven illegal fishing in Yucatan ports. This measure has caused widespread unemployment in coastal areas.
Illegal sales during the ban are conducted on digital platforms such as Facebook, within marketing groups where restaurants, freezers, and individuals participate.
Pech Chacón criticized the government for not addressing illegal fishing in Yucatan effectively. She called on state and federal authorities to enforce the law against those caught selling and capturing marine species during the ban.
The black market for fishing products in Yucatan continues to thrive due to inadequate government intervention, with illegal fishing and sales impacting the local economy and marine life.
Source: Diario de Yucatan
