BRIEFS. Environment

Ban puts fishermen out of work

A three-month ban on shrimp fishing is having a devastating effect on the community of Puerto Caimito in the district of La Chorrera.

“You have to save when things are good,” said Alexis González, a fisherman who has resorted to scavenging for scrap metal as a way to make a living.

Orlando Vega, captain of the boat “Niño José,” also manages to make ends meet by searching for scrap metal and picking up the occasional construction job.

Puerto Caimito was once a hotspot for Panama City residents to come to for fresh seafood. Today, however, it is more common to see out-of-work fishermen playing soccer in the park than it is to see the day's catch being unloaded at the dock.

The ban was imposed by the Autoridad de los Recursos Acuáticos de Panamá (ARAP). Until it is lifted, the community's fishermen are facing lean times.

“In Puerto Caimito, you always have options for how to make a living, but you have to be resourceful and hard-working,” González said.