The empty nets in the Zaza dam, the largest reservoir in Cuba, have become a constant for fishermen, who warn that there are not enough fish this year. The situation is reflected in the battered results of the Sancti Spíritus Fishing Company, which closed with a production of just 40% of the plan for the first quarter of 2023.
At the end of March, 291 tons of fish were processed out of the 726 planned for the first three months of the year, details a note on provincial newspaper Escambraywhich also warns that the low production will not only affect the company’s workers, but also the “assortment” of this high-protein food on the table of Cuban families.
“The fishermen assure that there are not enough fish under development”, but the most serious thing, adds the provincial newspaper, is the accelerated reduction of the area of operations. The “tanned-skinned men” have to go further afield, exposing themselves to more dangerous conditions and strong winds, to find the pieces that are still insufficient to meet the production quota.
The Department of Aquaculture in Sancti Spíritus deposited between 2018 and 2022 a little more than 100 million fingerlings of cyprinids, a freshwater species, 95% of them from the province itself. But there is another problem: there is no food to accelerate its growth.
Miriam Solano Valle, director of Aquaculture in the province, reminded the newspaper that it has not been possible to clean the vegetation in the reservoir, which makes both raising fish and extracting it difficult. However, she assured that “work has already begun” on the elimination of the weeds thanks to a provision of fuel and, for the moment, they have managed to recover 13.5 hectares.
The fishing sector is facing a deep crisis of low production, partly because it does not have vessels to work in international waters
Solano assumes that the fish are hidden in the brush because extreme weather events have not occurred and the dam gates have not opened.
Like almost all the productive links on the Island, the fishing sector is facing a deep crisis of low production, partly because it does not have vessels to work in international waters and it does not have large rivers that allow adequate extraction in freshwater.
This year they face another problem: drought. This is the case of the Gramal reservoir, in the municipality of Manatí, in Las Tunas, which is almost reaching the end of its useful life with only 18% water availability, confirmed the provincial press at the beginning of April.
a note from newspaper 26 ensures that the fishermen have not stopped their activities and extract a “significant quantity” of tilapia, a species that is not currently produced but thanks to its natural reproduction competes with other varieties in demand on the market such as tench or cyprinids. To some, however, this type of fish is unappealing because of its earthy, moldy taste.
Ángel Hidalgo Torres, head of the local fishing brigade, told the newspaper that only in the municipality of Jesús Menéndez they caught 96 tons of tilapia in March. This is not the case of the Colombia Las Tunas micro-dam, where the volume of water is at 10% of its capacity, while El Canario barely survives with 6%. Adding insult to injury, Lavado 5 is nearly dry, he said.
“In the next few days we will try to get as many fish as possible, so that the survival of these animals is not affected by the oxygen deficit and poor water quality,” said the fisherman, who believes that there will be enough to offer 100 tons. to families from Las Tunas.
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