53 



LATIN AMERICA 

 Mexico 



PLANS SHRIMPING EXPANSION 

 IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS 



Mexican shrimp catches reached peak in 

 1961 of 75,000 metric tons but leveled off in 

 1964 and 1965 to 70,000 and 60,000 tons. High 

 prices kept 1965 ex-vessel value close to 

 US$45 million, about 1964 value. 



To further extend industry beyond coastal 

 waters, present fleet will be doubled to over 

 1,000 vessels, many sonar-equipped. 



The disclosure of these plans followed the 

 signing of 3 -year contract between fishing 

 cooperatives and vessel owners. Leaders 

 estimated shrimp take- -expanded to new 

 areas during contract period--of at least 2.5 

 billion pesos (US$200 million). Most of the 

 catch, principally in frozen form, will be ex- 

 ported to the United States. 



Reversing the usual trend of U. S. vessels 

 off the Mexican coast, at least 28 Mexican 

 shrimp vessels were already operating in 

 international waters off the Texas coast in 

 mid-September. ( Mexico City News , Sept. 

 17, 1966.) 



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GULF SHRIMP FISHERMEN 

 WIN IMPROVED CONTRACT 



Shrimp fishermen of Gulf ports began fish- 

 ing on September 21 under a new 3-year con- 

 tract. The contract between vessel owners and 

 the fishermen's cooperatives was signed Sep- 

 tember 14. Although the fishermen's benefits 

 were increased considerably, vessel owners 

 reportedly will still be able to make, a profit, 

 especially with current high prices in U. S. 

 and Mexican markets. 



Under the new price scale, the crew is 

 paid 2,990 pesos (US$239) a metric ton for 

 all shrimp larger than 26 to the pound (heads - 

 off weight), and 1,300 pesos (US$104) for 

 those 26 to the pound, or smaller. At pres- 

 ent prices and usual size proportions, this 

 is said to amount to about 40 percent of the 

 value. At conversion rate of 12.5 pesos to 

 the dollar, and 2,204 pounds to metric ton, 

 the fishermen receive about 10.85 U. S. cents 



a pound for large shrimp, and 4.72 U. S. 

 cents for small shrimp. 



Crew Member 



Larqe Shrimp 



Small Shrimp 



Pesos 1 US$ 



Pesos 1 US$ 



Captain 



Engineer 



Winchman .... 

 Cook 



rPpr Mptnr Ton\ 1 



1,050 

 820 

 560 

 560 



84 

 65 



45 

 45 



410 

 350 

 280 

 260 



33 

 28 

 22 

 21 



Total 



2,990 



239 



1,300 



104 



In addition, the vessel owner pays each 

 crewman 12 pesos (US$0.96) a day at sea for 

 groceries and the cooperative associations a 

 specified amount to help defray their adminis- 

 trative costs. At Ciudad del Carmen and 

 Campeche, State of Campeche, this amounts 

 to 650 pesos (US$52) a metric ton: of which 

 100 pesos (US$8) is contributed to support of 

 University of the Southeast in Campeche, and 

 a school in Carmen. At Tampico, the pay- 

 ment is 550 pesos (US$44) a ton. The vessel 

 owner pays all taxes, costs of operation, and 

 provides nets and other equipment. 



Gulf vs. Pacific Shrimping 



Shrimp fishing on the Gulf Coast differs 

 from the Pacific Coast in at least two re- 

 spects, which make contract comparisons 

 difficult: On the Gulf, most vessels are owned 

 by private individuals who are often the own- 

 ers of the freezing plants. The crewmen are 

 paid by the owners. On the Pacific, most 

 vessels are owned by fishermen's coopera- 

 tives to which the crewmen belong. On the 

 Gulf, the shrimp belong to the vessel owner, 

 and he pays the crew in money for catching 

 them. On the Pacific, the vessel owner, 

 whether an individual or cooperative, and the 

 crew share shrimp ownership. Disputes on 

 the Pacific concern division of catch and ex- 

 penses. The somewhat simpler method of 

 owner paying crew a certain amount per unit 

 of catch makes for easier negotiations. (U.S. 

 Embassy, Mexico, D.F., September 28,1966.) 



Cuba 



PLANS TO EXPAND STATE-OWNED FLEET 



Before the Castro Revolution, the Cuban 

 National Institute of Fishing ("instituto Na- 



