Hydrocarbon spill in Veracruz: What has been the economic impact? The president of the Federation of Fishing Cooperatives of Alvarado, Jaime Santiago Rojas, reported that they cannot carry out fishing activities because they risk hydrocarbons reaching their nets or engines. He explained that a single net can be worth over 150,000 pesos, and several were damaged during the first days of the spill, meaning losses in that municipality alone exceed 2 to 3 million pesos. Furthermore, damage to fishing gear has been reported along the entire Veracruz coastline, though the total amount lost between equipment and days of work has not been calculated. Hundreds of Veracruz fishermen from various municipalities are unable to carry out their productive activities due to the hydrocarbon spill that has affected the coasts. The fishermen stated that due to this situation, they have been unable to earn income, which has prevented them from covering their daily expenses, in addition to the economic losses from the damage to numerous nets. In addition to the fishermen, Albertano Martínez Martínez, a representative of independent fishermen from Pajapan, noted that the entire productive chain dependent on fishing, such as processing plants or female vendors, is also unable to work and has been left without income. “They should pay attention to the people, the street vendors who sell the product, it's a joint effort… we live day by day,” he stated. They explained that because there is no government support, some people have resorted to fishing and consuming contaminated fish, which has caused gastrointestinal problems. Casimiro Fermín Morales, a fisherman from Pajapan, said that in the first days, they were promised payment for cleaning the area; however, most have still not been paid, even though they worked without the necessary protective equipment. The authorities of Pajapan and Tatahuicapan in southern Veracruz announced the closure of fishing at the beginning of March when the spill started. This was joined by Nautla, in the north-central part of the state, as of March 21st.
Hydrocarbon Spill in Veracruz: Economic Impact
Hundreds of fishermen in Veracruz have lost their income due to an oil spill. They report damaged equipment, lack of government support, and health problems from eating contaminated fish.
