40% of the spaces in artisanal fishing facilities are unoccupied

The effects of the pandemic are associated with this level of unemployment in artisanal ports and fishing facilities.

In the fishing facility of theBajo Alto commune of El Guabo canton(El Oro) has stopped processing shellfish and fish. That activity has all but disappeared since the pandemic began last year. Fishing is only processed under specific orders.

The fishermen who manage that space given in bailment chose to stop fishing in that place due to the losses they have faced in the pandemic. And now the space is only used to make ice, which is sold to the community.

"When the pandemic came, we had a lot of product, we trust, we lost like $ 5,000 because we could not retain that product due to energy costs," he says.Julio Yorela, manager of the La Condesa cooperative.

This union manages the fishing facility since the delivery of the property was managed in 2017, which was in charge of the Real Estate Management Service of the Public Sector, currentlySecretariat of Real Estate Management of the Public Sector.The loan is valid until 2022.

It has two cold chambers, one for freezing, a chamber for removing ice in frost and a power plant. The idea was that this infrastructure with a capacity for 12 tons of frozen seafood could be used to add value to production. But current activity in that sense is low.

Shrimp, cashme, mullet, sea bass and other fish were vacuum packed there. Yorela argues that ascurrent costs are not enough to continue vacuum packagingIn this infrastructure, what they are doing is delivering direct fishing without processing it.

"Energy consumption costs us up to 1,300 dollars a month and sometimes there is no way to pay," says Yorela, who considers that there has been a lack of support in training and productive development.

The Bajo Alto fishing facility is the only one that is on loan. The fishing infrastructures of Jaramijó, Anconcito, Esmeraldas and San Mateo and Santa Rosa They are still under the administration of the Secretariat for Real Estate Management of the Public Sector (Real Estate).

In these spaces, the pandemic has also impacted, although in different ways. Due to the effects of COVID-19, several premises have been vacated since last year.

Until last December, the spaces and areas that are rented in ports and fishing facilities had an occupancy level of 60%, that is, 40% were unoccupied.

The Secretariat for Real Estate Management of the Public Sector linked this unemployment to the effects of the pandemic and said that these positions were considered for the 2021 lease plan.

Fisheries leaders of ManabíThey said that in the province's infrastructures there are warehouses, dining rooms and premises that were vacated because last year had very hard months for fishing activity and it is still not possible to speak of a recovery.

In the province of Santa Elena, fishermen report that there is little unemployment.

Ramón González, fishing leader of Santa Rosa (Santa Elena),argues that when there is no production the infrastructure of that town operates at 70% or 80%, but when the activity is greater it works at its capacity.

The cost of maintenance in ports and artisanal fishing facilities represents approximately $ 1,300,000. This item goes to basic services, municipal taxes, security, cleaning and maintenance.

The fishing infrastructures, created since the previous government, have passed through various administrations. Before 2015 they were under the responsibility of the Public Company of Fishing Infrastructure of Ecuador. But since this entity merged with Inmobiliaria, the management has been controlled from this entity.

A fishing infrastructure is desired in Puerto Bolívar

Fishermen in the Puerto Bolívar area, in El Oro, hope that the next government will implement an infrastructure to facilitate fishing activities.

Fabián Cruz, president of the Provincial Chamber of Fisheries and related parties of El Oro,notes that a fishing facility will help improve controls and services.

The leader indicates that years ago the possibility of developing a project in the El Coco sector was raised, but it did not materialize.

Cruz maintains that it is necessary to think of a facility that can boost the added value of fishery products.

In the Puerto Bolívar area there are about 7,000 fishermen with all kinds of boats.