It had been five years since the Ciego de Ávila shrimp fleet – six heavy ferrocement boats – had not met the semi-annual plan of 94 tons of pink shrimp. Yet nowhere in the long reportage that the local press dedicates to them this Saturday guarantees that this food will arrive, even in minimal quantities, at the Cuban table. Its objective is the same as always: export.
The local leaders admitted that the money to buy food for the entire state fishing sector depended on the success or failure of the fishermen, and on the subsequent sale of the product abroad. The fact that the shipment was complete at the end of May is a good sign: it was still possible to work in June and make an additional profit.
The passage of Hurricane Irma, in 2017, marked the beginning of bad luck for shrimpers, who usually celebrate compliance with the plan with a small party in the port of Júcaro. Shyly, the director of operations of the province’s Industrial Fishing Company, José López Calderón, said that the sale of the cargo in the international market “favored” the consumption of seafood for the town the rest of the year. However, the leader did not explain what part of the 94 exportable tons the people of Ciego de Avila could take advantage of.
Judging by the ‘Invasor’ report, the only fishermen who benefit from the work do so during working hours
Judging by the report of Invaderthe only fishermen who benefit from the work do so during working hours: a boat “goes on a voyage for 20 days and we can do a good part of the food expenses that the crew needs with what the shrimp contributes, and, in to a lesser extent, aquaculture productions”, explains López.
As for the money from the sale of shrimp, says the head of finance of the Fishing Company, Neyci López, that it is used – although not entirely – for “spare parts, repairs to the industry and painting for boats”. But you can’t be “categorical” when calculating profits, she cautions, as shrimp prices on the world market “fluctuate.”
Something remains, said the leaders, for the people. “We add about 28 tons each month, 8.9 of them for medical diets, in addition to contributions to educational centers and Public Health,” they said, although it was not clear if they discounted that amount from the 94 planned for export or if it should come out of a surplus.
Among the factors that allowed the plan to be fulfilled this year, say the authorities, is the repair of the boats, their cabins and implements above the waterline
Among the factors that allowed the plan to be fulfilled this year, say the authorities, is the repair of the boats, their cabins and implements above the waterline of the boats. The deepest repairs, they regret, have to be done in national shipyards and it has not been possible.
Another negative factor has been the fuel crisis that affected the entire country and prevented further movement of ships. The gain, they say, could have been higher. However, they celebrate the triumph: “Júcaro reinvented itself”, is the slogan.
Invader He concludes his report with a willful comment on the infinite possibilities that the sale of the precious shrimp will provide the Cuban State. However, he cannot avoid a bitter note: “We could not avoid the temptation, not at all culinary, to echo the popular voice when it asks: what are exports for?”
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