Fishermen from Puerto Peñasco are to receive economic compensation due to the impact of a two year fishing ban (or rather the use of gillnets) in the Upper Gulf of California.
A meeting held earlier this summer in Mazatlán, Sinaloa between representatives and fishermen from Puerto Peñasco, accompanied by municipal officials, and staff from the National Fishing Commission (CONAPESCA), established that compensation would be extended during the Upper Gulf ban to fishermen in Puerto Peñasco in addition to that already in place for fishermen from San Felipe and the Gulf of Santa Clara.
The two-year ban on the use of gillnets within the Upper Gulf of California is meant as a strategy to help protect endangered species, including the dwindling vaquita marina population. Puerto Peñaso City Trustee, Herme Damian Velázquez, remarked once it was shown that the ban would affect the local fishing sector, a decision was made to also include coastal fishermen from Puerto Peñasco within the economic compensation packages.
Although the amount of support is yet to be determined, SEMARNAT will be the governmental office to then distribute compensation to 85 boats authorized for the use of gillnets.
At the meeting, which was also attended by the General Director of Fishing Affairs for CONAPESCA, Víctor Arriaga, additional agreements were made to extend compensation to smaller boats and processors in Puerto Peñasco.