With catches ranging from 3,500 to 4,000 kilograms of mollusks, the larger fleet boats of Yucalpetén return as they complete the first trip of the octopus fishing season, which runs from Tuesday, August 1, to Friday, December 15.
The “Padre Nuestro” and the “Oso Polar,” the first returning boats, brought in 3,500 and 4,000 kilograms, respectively, yesterday.
Other larger fleet vessels that arrived yesterday reported that they also brought an average of four tons of mollusks.
Érik Jesús Alcocer Herrera, a crew member of the “Padre Nuestro,” pointed out that the common octopus (octopus vulgaris) has not yet appeared, and the Mayan mollusk is being captured far from the coast.
During this month, the larger fleet boats work close to the coast, he indicated.
Hervin Pacheco Sánchez, known as “Palala,” the skipper of the boat “Pescamex 22” that arrived yesterday, also mentioned that they did well on the first octopus trip and estimated that they brought in more than 4,000 kilograms.
He affirmed that the fishermen made the most of the good weather during the 19 days they spent offshore, fishing on the western coast of Yucatán.
Boat skippers and fishermen from the larger fleet stated that the first leg of the octopus season turned out to be average, and with the catches obtained, they cover provisioning expenses and advance payments given to the crew, which in total amount to over $300,000.
With the arrival of the larger fleet boats, there has been a lot of activity at the fishing docks and freezing facilities of the Yucalpetén Industrial Park since yesterday, for unloading the boats and delivering the octopus to processing plants.
After unloading, the fishermen clean and wash the boats, the cold storage room, and the kitchen, so that they can start provisioning them for the second leg of the season in the coming days.
More octopus vessels will arrive this week. Owners were informed via radio that they have completed their fishing period and are heading for Yucalpetén.
Boat skippers mentioned that they still don’t know the price they will be paid per kilogram of octopus because this is the first trip of the season. They only began delivering their loads to the freezing facilities yesterday, and other boats will do so today, Friday, or tomorrow, Saturday.
The fishermen sold their share of the catch, between 15 and 20 kilograms each, to local fish traders operating on the docks in the Yucalpetén area. They were paid between $60 and $70 per kilogram.— Gabino Tzec Valle
TYT Newsroom
