There is an adage that “When the waters are troubled, the fishermen profit”. But when the adjective is attributed to time, it is something else, and that is how the year 2024 passed for the workers of the Fishing Company (Pescatun) in this eastern Cuban province.

Las Tunas, Cuba.- The stage was characterized by “storms” of limitations around the ponds and the platform. However, it was also full of efforts, of incessant searches that, although they did not crown the desired goals, revealed the spirit with which the sector faced the challenges without burning the ships, and now its labor collectives focus their gaze towards the immediate future.

The decision was signed at the meeting that reviewed the performance in the eventful expired calendar, and Denia Castillo Maillo, general director of the company, invited to socialize the best experiences and to focus all energies on the implementation of alternatives that “allow overcoming the challenges of this new period, which will also be difficult”, about the lack of fuel and other resources and essential inputs in the demanding work of planting and catching.

Meanwhile, Iris Quiñones Rojas, director of Industry, Quality, and Commercial of the National Fishing Group, urged to review and plan well the projections to transcend the good intentions, and the ideas materialize in more food for the people.

CHANGES IN OPERATIONS

And the claims of the two directives were the cornerstone of the debates. In 2024 some answers will continue to be useful in 2025, for example, the manufacture of traps for catches on the coast and the start-up of a machine that replaces the artisanal production of croquettes, said José Abelardo Álvarez Molina, director of the Puerto Padre Subsidiary Company.

Also in the Unidad Empresarial de Base (UEB in Spanish) Manatí, they see with optimism the revival of the oyster farm, source of employment, economic income to the entity and offers to the lovers of this nutritious mollusk, and the elaboration of croquettes with the use of equipment that favors the increase of its quantities, assured Adrián Valdés, its director.

According to the plan, there is no change in the supply of the fuel necessary for the fishing tasks on the platform, and given this situation, without disregarding the sacrifices involved, the statements advocated extending the fishing campaigns and watching over the weather conditions, the stock of fish runs..., “everything that allows to save this deficient resource. To obtain better results and that these correspond to the allocations”, they agreed.

FISHING GEAR AND EXPECTATIONS...

“Las Tunas has fish reserves in aquaculture and the platform”, says Adalberto Leyva Segura, director of Fishing Operations of the entity, and its existence is a strength to fulfill the plans and increase the deliveries of this food.

The State, amid the country's financial complexities, made evident efforts in the delivery of 10 marine engines last year, although six are still waiting for the certification to install them; of 30 boats for aquaculture, and of fishing gear that favored these activities.

Today Labeo fish are abundant in the local reservoirs. There are so many that it hinders its growth, but the 30 mesh sizes required for its capture are scarce.

Among the expectations is the aspiration to be able to self-finance with their income and the purchase of the fuel they need to operate their fleets and bring the precious food to land.

Despite the limitations, there is a desire to work, and an administrative management that supports, stimulates, and promotes innovative ideas such as those related to chaining and diversification of production are strengths that spice optimism.

At the meeting, the collectives and the most outstanding workers were honored by the Administration and the Union.