Intensive work is currently being carried out by units subordinate to the Pescatún Fishing Company, to guarantee food for the population of the eight municipalities, in the midst of an exceptional situation imposed by the presence in Cuba of the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

Las Tunas, Cuba.- Adalberto Leyva Segura, the entity's Director of Production, said that the activity has two fundamental branches: aquaculture and marine fisheries, in the north and south platforms, and developed in the base business units of Puerto Padre, Manatí and Guayabal, in “Amancio.”

In the case of aquaculture, he specified that “everything begins with fry production, and today they are working in the recovery of the tanks destined to produce the seed, which is essential for the breeding of fishes like the tench. This species facilitates the dough to manufacture croquettes, seasoned mince fish, sausages, hamburgers and other assortments.”

He explained that of the 45 hectares they have, they are working on the rekindle of 16; nine of them will be ready before the end of the year, and the remaining seven will be completed in the next calendar. Altogether, they will give a production of 15 million juveniles.

Leyva Segura meant that some organizations, such as the Delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Sugar Company, will join the activity with the planting of fry in reservoirs to contribute to the food of their workers.

In the case of the catfish, he recalled that initially, people had doubts; but they have accepted them and are preferred mainly in fillets. He even highlighted that they cover a part of the population's medical diets.

“Now the territory is immersed in the capture of snapper, on the southern coast, and that of the bar jack is coming soon. We are already preparing the boats and other assurances that this campaign carries. By October it will be the bonefish. But these productions are not large volumes.

"The most caught are the Madeiran sardinella and the anchovy and, of course, what we sell the most. For example, in 2019 we obtained 348 tons of Madeiran sardinellas and in the case of snapper, just three.

He pointed out that during April in the 14 fishmongers they sold 30 tons of croquettes and that they benefited about 49 thousand nuclei with a package per capita, which will continue in the coming weeks, as had been established.

"We don't stop. We started with the production of sausages, which has had acceptance. We have made sales to priority sectors, such as Health, and we maintain our commitments to the restaurant network, which continues its take-out service, in order for families to stay at home.”

Leyva Segura clarified that the demand is high and the fish is very little; but an improvement is expected from the month of July, which will be possible with the efforts of the workers, who are determined to maintain the status of the most outstanding in the country, both in aquaculture and in the marine fishery.