By Christian traditionrooted in a mainly secular culture like the Uruguayan, fish consumption takes off every Friday of the tourist week. However, in dialogue with The Observerfrom some fishmongers pointed out that this year the sale was more “quiet” than on other occasionsperhaps because the pandemic was left behind, and with Argentina as an accessible destination for Uruguayans, many people left the country this week.
Also, this year, the Federation of workers of Ancap (Fancap) He decided no overtime during tourismwhich prevented fishing boats from setting sail, denounced the Chamber of Fishing Industries of Uruguay (CIPU). Marine diesel is the fuel with which the industrial fishing fleet operates, and can only be purchased by Ancap.
From the Altamar fish market located in the little port of Buceo, Susana Ramos highlighted that this year “it is selling well”. “Luckily not everyone left. There is always someone left,” he told The Observer.
On the other hand, one of the points he pointed out was the increase in the sale of shellfish, something that other colleagues also recognized.
“Year after year, people change their customs. This year they turned a lot to seafood and several years ago It’s been the same way,” Ramos assured.
For Natalia Ferreira from The Best Fisherman, at this time of the year “More seafood is sold.” Also, “croaker and whiting are being sold”. However, for Ferreira, the sale was “Half calm, much less than other years”. “People left,” she said.
Fancap’s decision affected to a certain extent The Best Fisherman’s fish market located in Carrasco, because if Ferreira bought from the refrigerator, it would not arrive fresh, since there were none in the port. “We couldn’t stock up on other merchandise, we don’t have a variety,” he explained to The Observer. Even so, “We manage with the fresh catch, the one from our boat”.
Pollution, sea lions and little fishing
Ricardo de Piero, owner of the Punta Carretas fish market, sells only what achieves with “its three artisanal fishing boats”.
At 2:00 p.m. on this Holy Thursday – day that according to him is when it sells the most – “I no longer had anything.”
“There is a lot of sale, what there is is little fish. We depend on fishing, on inclement weather,” said De Piero in dialogue with The Observer.
The conflict with the Ancap union did not affect him, but it did affect an already established situation in the country that harasses fishing, especially artisanal fishing.
“There is much less fishing, due to the significant pollution that exists and also the number of sea lions that for different reasons are moving. You cast a net, you deposit it in the water, you spread it out and the wolves immediately come there. All the fish there is, it’s not that they take it out delicately, itor they start with pieces of network. A new network, zero kilometer, immediately fills you with holes”, explained to The Observer.
“Besides, there are no closed seasons, which should be done to catch less fish today and more tomorrow. The fish is always the same, but the technologies are much better,” continued De Piero. As examples, he pointed out that there are now “hundreds or thousands of kayaks fishing in the water” and “There is a sucker at Punta del Tigre” that it absorbs “water where there is an estuary where fish come to spawn”.
“All that did not exist before”summarized.
Fish consumption is increasing “because doctors even recommend eating fish so many times a week”. In addition, on these dates, it grows even more. “The tradition continues. There are many people who do not eat fish during the year and now want to eat for the Easter tradition,” DePiero said.
Whole fish by tradition
Out of habit, in tourism, some people buy whole sea bass or sea bass “to make on the embers”. Even, “some want the head because it is more folkloric”.
But, for a croaker that someone buys, “You sell a hundred kilos of loin.” “People want loin and boneless,” said the owner of the fish market in Punta Carretas. De Piero sells what he catches: whiting, permit, sea bass, black sea bass, silverside, sole, black sea bass, little owl, anchovy.
Álvaro Otero, owner of Servipez, which sells retail and wholesale in the Larrañaga neighborhood, agreed with his colleagues.
More than 90% of the sale of fish corresponds to loin. Although in a tourist week “A lot is sold for the grill too, increase the whole”: “croaker, sea salmon, little owl, some mullet”.
Otero also said that “it is very noticeable” the increase in the sale of seafood. “People go for the practical,” he explained.
Thursday and Friday morning is when it sells the most, so, in dialogue this morning with The ObserverHe said we have to wait. So far, however, “compared to other years it was calmer.”
“There were even less fish, because many boats did not go out. The weather did not help much,” he said in the same vein.
In addition, after the decision of Fancap“many ships were stopped.” “The amount of fish we could catch also affected us. Luckily some came from Argentina. At least it gave us enough to supply. And also something that we have in reserve,” said Otero.
The drop in sales this year is not worrisome, but “In certain sectors the flow of clients decreases.” Many people left the country.
“When it was the time of the pandemic, people didn’t go out as much, it sold very well”compared.
