About 100 tons of pink shrimp will be exported by Cuba this year. In the first semester of 2023, delicious shellfish were caught in the province of Ciego de Ávila. After five seasons of not meeting projections, fishing plans have now come to fruition. The director of fishing operations of the Ciego de Ávila Industrial Fishing Company (EPIVILA) commented on this to the local newspaper Invasor. José Osmundo López Calderon said, “Profits from these international sales will be used to repair and supply the fishing fleet. This means more production for fisheries and consumers.
The executive insisted, “Shrimp fishing is also our main resource throughout the year. The availability of CL (Liquid Capacity) from shrimp fishing is the six months when it is favorable to get food. The beneficiaries will be our labor groups, including those who spend long hours fishing other species in the sea”.
Repairs on the way, cash in hand
Exports of pink shrimp from July will also allow the company to repair and supply its 64 boats. “They go on a trip for 20 days and we can make a good part of the food cost with the shrimp contribution. To a lesser extent it is thanks to aquaculture products,” the expert noted.
The same provincial publication indicated that profits from the shrimp catch would turn into foreign exchange funds that Cuba receives through exports.
Meanwhile, three months ago, the Cienfuegos Industrial Fishing Company (EPICIEN) also violated plans to seize shrimp, crab and lobster. In all cases the objective is the same: to export the said products.
EPICIEN’s general director, Idania Piñeiro Morejón, confirmed that the commercial activity of seafood generated a profit of more than 30 million pesos. Economic benefits improved workers’ wages.
