With just five days left until the start of the octopus season, uncertainty looms among the fishermen on the Yucatán coast. In Chuburná, the seafaring men prefer to continue with their tourism activities and miss the beginning of the season, as it brings them greater profits and safety. Meanwhile, in Chabihau, the fishing guild has not yet begun placing the traps on the boats, and divers in the port of El Cuyo have detected mud on the seabed, obstructing visibility and scaring away different marine species.
The fishermen are also closely monitoring the weather conditions because if they are not favorable, they will have to wait a few days until it improves before seeking their long-awaited and cherished bounty. This anticipation comes especially after a decline in catches and prices of lobster, grouper, and scale fish.
Preference for Tourism
August 1st marks the great opportunity for over 12,000 seafarers to set out in search of octopus, considered the peak time for economic gains both on land and at sea.
However, in Chuburná, for approximately four years now, an initiative to venture into tourism has been gaining popularity, and more and more fishermen are joining this side of the industry.
According to the latest registry from the Municipal Fisheries Directorate, 550 fishermen are concentrated in Chuburná. However, with the emergence of a new generation of young seafarers in the last two years, the interviewees agreed that the number could reach up to 700 people engaged in offshore activities.
Of that number, nearly 40 percent are fully dedicated to offering tourism trips on fishing vessels. Over the years, they have expanded their services to include traditional recreational fishing a couple of miles from the pier, as well as organizing camps and “lunadas” (night gatherings) for entire families.
These attractions have caught the attention of the municipal administration, which has approached the cooperatives. Nevertheless, the seafarers stand firm in their decision not to relinquish control of the site to any organization, institution, or government agencies.
In Chuburná, boat tours for various activities, such as visits to Swing Island, have surprisingly led several fishermen to choose to miss the beginning of the octopus frenzy and stay in the tourism industry. They claim that it provides them with better earnings and greater security.
Prior to the vacation season, a survey at the pier indicated that there were around 200 visitors at most on weekends. Now, during the weekdays, the counts range from 150 to 300 people who spend pesos and dollars with the various tourism groups. On weekends, the number of attendees exceeds 500 during each session.
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