In Mazatlan, some fishermen still use selective fishing techniques

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In Mazatlan there are still fishermen who use selective fishing gear, such is the case of those who belong to the Artisanal Fishermen Cooperative of Playa Norte.

The way in which the fish and shellfish we eat are caught has a direct impact on the availability of the resource.

For example, artisanal fishing that is done with hook, allows selective capture. In this way, fishermen take out the fish one by one and when the size is very small or the species is not the one sought, it is returned to the sea, this way, only what is needed is captured.

On the other hand, there are fishing nets that are placed as if they were a barrier and left there for a long time, such is the case of the chinchorros. This type of fishing method is predatory because it causes the death of countless species of all sizes that remain trapped for hours suffering in vain. With the risk of killing turtles and dolphins, among other specimens; However, this practice is common and we can observe it in Mazatlan.

Fortunately, there are also fishermen who use selective fishing gear, such is the case of those who belong to the Artisanal Fishermen Cooperative of Playa Norte. They can be identified because their boats or canoes are smaller, use an internal motor and a tiny propeller. There are about sixty men who have decided to maintain the use of hooks as their predecessors have done for generations.

With this technique, the fish that are caught are deposited alive in a small compartment of the canoe, called a nursery, which has a hole that allows the entry of seawater; In this way, it is ensured that the product arrives as fresh as possible to the shore and therefore, their quality is higher.

Fish caught with chinchorros die in the net, so that their body can get marks and the flesh lose firmness, depending on the amount of hours the fish have been trapped.

“Knowing how to capture, process or transfer the products of the sea that we take to our table, will allow us to make a more responsible consumption of them and support sustainable practices”, a Mazatlan fisherman stated.

Source: Son Playas