By TwentyTwenty
Mexican authorities order to forbid red grouper fishing for two months.
The constant fishing of red grouper (mero or American cherna) in the Yucatan Peninsula’s coastal area has to be a concerning not just for authorities but also for fishermen which income depends on its catch.
According to Marine Biology researcher at Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan, Alfonso Aguilar Pereira, the red grouper (Epinephelus morio) is classified as an endangered species as a consequence of the abuse over its capture.
This is why this fishery is forbidden along the Gulf of Mexico and the Mexican Caribean from February 1st to march 31, in order to respect its reproductive season.
Meanwhile, fishermen who depends on red grouper catch will be receiving a support income from Yucatan’s government
In an online conference, Aguilar Pereira emphasized that the red grouper fish is a vulnerable species that has been over exploited in the southeast area of Mexico.
He explained that is a marine species which stands out for its capacity to face its predators, as well as changes in the salt levels or water temperature.
It’s also a species that has developed a better adaptation to the hurricane effects, red tides and sea pollution.
He also said that the red grouper fish, is very important for other species from the marine habitat, because it usually digs in the sea floor or between the reef bars, making spaces that are used as dens or shelters for other fish.
The only thing that this fishery hasn’t been able to resist is the excessive fishing by humans. That’s why this temporary ban is stablished during the reproductive season of this species, with the aim of giving them a chance to recover.
He also pointed out that in Yucatan there are about 15 thousand fishermen who dedicate to the red grouper fish capture, as well as 65 companies that buy and sell to other states like Puebla or Guadalajara, or export it to United States.
He noted that during this temporary ban, they will give $600 Mexican pesos weekly to families dedicated to red grouper fishing.
This financial support will be delivered to fishermen from coastal municipalities or close to the coast of Bokobá, Buctzotz, Celestún, Dzemul, Dzilam de Bravo, Dzidzantún, Dzilam González, Hunucmá, Kinchil, Progreso, Río Lagartos, San Felipe, Sinanché, Telchac Puerto, Tetiz, Tizimín, Timucuy and Yobaín.
