During the months from July to September, a stain of bar jack fishes, coming from Canada, passes through the northern coast of the province of Las Tunas thanks to the ocean currents that take place there. The moment, taken to the maximum by the fishermen of this territory for the capture of these fish, is prepared in advance and with care; no detail can fail.
Las Tunas, Cuba - The day has just begun, the sun can hardly be seen among the clouds and meanwhile, six fishermen belonging to the Punta Brava ship are getting ready to set sail from the port of Manatí, with only one objective in mind: to return to the mainland with the greatest amount of fish possible; that is still the goal.
The sea is calm today, I imagine it is to make a pleasant impression on the new tenants who will accompany the catch today. Little by little the sun is rising and the bow is guiding the way as if influenced by the positive vibes of those who sail there. Today will be a good day.
Since March, the fishermen have been preparing for this event. They have already dragged the nets as part of the traditional fishing line to catch the mackerel fish, and now they are on their way to the race, as the moon has also indicated that it is time.
This time the captaincy is not alone, executives from Pescatún accompany the journey to live the same experiences of these brave sailors, who for this month should reach about 20 tons of the precious food, even exceed expectations.
From July to September, about 120 tons must be caught between the municipalities of Manatí and Puerto Padre, both with two strikes each, according to Mario Sedeño Viamontes, director of the Fishing Company of Las Tunas, onboard the boat.
"Of these tons, 10 will go directly for export, the rest will be sold in the network of fisheries, and it will benefit priority agencies and, in this summer, also to other centers of Gastronomy and Accommodation," stressed the director from the bow, as it is already visible the site where the fishing process will take place.
We approached the spot. At Punta Brava, nobody speaks when we almost reached the ideal site to cast our anchor. Everyone knows what they must do and, as they rectify the details of their specialized equipment to proceed with the dragging of the fish into the large pond, a small motorboat approaches to facilitate the process. Two divers, guardians of the anchorage, arrive there during the days and nights to keep watch so that nothing unexpected happens.
The skipper of the boat, José Manuel Lobelle Justo, explains that for them, unity is fundamental. "Of course, we have had adversities, setbacks, but we never think that the objective cannot be achieved. We trust each other and each other's responsibility. Our commitment is to give our all, to help the national economy and to be profitable," he said before going into the water to start the catch.
One of the most uncertain moments is coming. How many tons will be caught today? What is impressive for the visitors to the boat is that, to the eye of the beholder, as the saying goes, the number that these fishermen say just by skirting the obstruction made at sea will certainly be the real value. These men of numbers and prognoses already know. "Today we leave with 10," they say cheerfully from the surface. And so it was.
The fundamental work begins, in the form of a chain they are carrying out one activity after another; time is now their greatest enemy because the merchandise has to arrive fresh to the port. Nimbly and skillfully, they manage to mount the catch on the boat, remove the anchor and start their return.
José Ángel Carralero Maldonado, El Niño, as he is known, does not waste a minute, he knows that in his efficient management now lies the responsibility of ensuring that the food reaches as many people as possible in good condition. He is the director of the Base Business Unit of the port of Manatí, and immediately after setting sail, he mobilizes the transport so that nothing goes wrong in the production chain. The commitment is to feed the people", he underlines, "we have agreed on 42 tons until September and we are going to guarantee them."
Once again the skipper Lobelle is concentrated behind the wheel, now there is adversity in the tide and in addition, they are carrying an unexpected load. No one notices his concern; he is capable enough to choose his maneuvers correctly for a successful return. The waves now do hit Punta Brava hard, but from the front of the sea, and hitting it with the bow, they advance towards the port and arrive with the satisfaction drawn on their faces. We did it!
This province is the best in the country in the fishing sector. The results motivate the anglers more in the face of the month of August when the bar jack fishes reach their peak. The conditions are guaranteed, with a park available for the shipment of the product. And there is more to tell, because while in the north of the country this story is being told, in the south others are living the capture of the Madeiran sardinella and the sawfish.
About 30 tons of bar jack fishes have already been sold, reports the director Sedeño Viamontes. Meanwhile, alternatives are being sought for immediate commercialization as a variation on the lack of ice that sometimes prevents the processing of larger quantities.
The task of the day was accomplished and there is no greater joy for these fishermen than the infinite gratitude for their contribution. Their families embrace them for being home again. Nobody knows what the ocean has in store for them on another new fishing day; however, they once again raise their eyes to the horizon and without a second thought they reaffirm that they cannot live far from the sea.
