By José Antonio Pérez
Commercial fishing for hake (merluza) out of Puerto Peñasco has had a steady rise over the last five years, according to Federal Fishing Official Salvador Sánchez García, who noted the stability in numbers points to healthy fishing practices.
This February, following formalization of permits for hake fishing in the northwestern part of the country, 50 fishing boats are prepared to launch from Puerto Peñasco for the season, with expected yields of over 3000 tons.
Sanchez Garcia highlighted that authorities and fishermen are conducting activities in a sustainable manner, allowing those involved to participate directly in management measures, guidelines, and public policies to ensure responsible fishing.
He reiterated the positive expectations for hake yields this season, as this resource has become a firm option for the fishing community given the rise in production over the years, and it being the second most important fishing product for Puerto Peñasco, behind shrimp.
Hake yields over the years
- 2011 – 1323 tons
- 2012 – 1374 tons
- 2013 – 5158 tons
- 2014 – 5553 tons
- 2015 – 4408 tons
- 2016 – 5311 tons
- 2017 – nearly 4000 tons
Economic revenue from hake has also been favorable, as in 2011 this represented just over 10 million pesos, while last year the season garnered over 30 million pesos.