After a meeting with government officials, fishermen from San Felipe, led by Ana Isabel García Aguilar, reached an agreement to fish while respecting the zero-tolerance zone, thus allowing the San Felipe 250 race to take place.
On Tuesday afternoon, a meeting was held with the representative of the group, Native Fishermen of the Port of San Felipe, the Secretary General of the Government, Alfredo Álvarez, the State Secretary of the Environment, Norma Elvia Martínez Santos, and the State Secretary of Fisheries, Alma Rosa García Juárez.
Also present was the delegate of the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) in Baja California, Ricardo Cárdenas, among others.
This agreement stems from an incident that occurred on Sunday, March 15, in which a Navy vessel towed a fishing boat located in the core zone, near the estuary area in San Felipe.
This prompted a mobilization of fishermen towards the pier, and the Marines responded by closing it off with personnel equipped with riot gear.
The core zone, established in 1993, is located outside the vaquita marina protection zone, but until that day, fishermen were free to work.
In response, García Aguilar threatened that if they were not allowed to fish, they would block the highway and prevent the San Felipe 250 race, scheduled for this weekend, from taking place. The race represents one of the most important sources of income for the seventh municipality of the state.
Among the agreements reached were the following: The Federal Ministry of Economy will coordinate a visit to the municipality of San Felipe to secure support for the fishermen (tentative date March 30-31, pending confirmation with the Ministry of Economy).
The State Ministry of Welfare will accompany the Federal Ministry of Economy representatives on their visit to offer a support program for the fishermen.
While the General Secretariat of the Government (SGG) will meet with the Secretariat of the Navy to discuss the restrictions in the core zone.
The State Secretariat of Fisheries will coordinate a program for the accreditation of fishermen and women, in order to verify their fishing activity. In this regard, a census will be conducted and the operating rules of the “Fishing with Heart” Program will be reviewed to eliminate intermediaries.
The liaison with the fishermen will be through Ms. Ana Isabel García Aguilar via cell phone number (686)-121-53-32.
The councilwomen and the congressman present propose opening their various offices to serve as service points for receiving documents.
SEMARNAT (the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources) states that they will review the 2020 Agreement in conjunction with federations, cooperatives, and independent fishermen.
The SGG will review the fishermen’s request to have the traditional fishing practices of San Felipe declared a Cultural Heritage.
In addition, the SGG will address the fishermen’s request to hold a direct dialogue with CONAPESCA and SEMARNAT regarding the “core zone” polygon, a meeting that the SEMARNAT delegate in Baja California will help us coordinate.
Source: oem
