The fishing sector in Sonora is constituted by around 3,000 fishermen who are concentrated in 34 cooperative societies and who are specialized in extracting Sonoran shrimp, crab, octopus, sardines, squid, clam, oyster, sea scallops, and thousands of many other varieties of seafood.
However, due to the current closed season of shrimp, fishermen are trying to find an alternate source of income from the sea. It seems to be that they have found it in the extraction of jellyfish which is a very abundant species in the beaches of the region. Fishermen, along with competent investigation centers, such as CRIP and Cibnor, are currently studying the population density of Stomolophus meleagris, commonly known as jellyfish, in order to determine the feasibility of extracting this species from our waters for international purposes.
Asians, especially Koreans, are demanding jellyfish from Sonora to use it in their food diet, such as in salads, as it has rejuveneting and afrodiasic properties.
Jellyfish has been extracted from Guaymas, obtaining around three tons per day per fishing boat, which are sold to processing plants. It generates 400 direct jobs, as well as jobs in the processing plants that acquire the product.
Guaymas is not the only port where jellyfish can be found. Huatabampo has, as well, 114 kilometers of coast, including the fishing camps of Agiabampo, Los Chichiros, Camahuiroa, Las Bocas, Huatabampito, Yavaros, Boca del Río, El Aquiripo and El Riíto.
|
