“Cozumel Lobster Crisis: Permits Delay Threatens Catch”

Around 600 kilos of lobster, freshly caught in Cozumel, had to be given away by local fishermen after two companies, who usually buy the catch for export, were unable to do so due to a lack of necessary permits from the Federal Commission for Protection Against Health Risks (Cofepris).

This unfortunate situation was revealed at a recent press conference by Jose Angel Canto Noh, a representative of the fishing community. He explained that the lobsters were distributed on the streets of Cozumel as they could not be stored for long.

Previously, the two companies would buy the lobster catch and export it via Merida. However, new regulations from Cofepris now require these companies to have a permit for each state they operate in. The process to obtain these permits is proving to be time-consuming.

Canto Noh criticized Cofepris officials in Chetumal for their lack of urgency, stating that they should have responded within 24 hours, but a week has passed without any communication.

Adding to their woes, the fishing season started late this year due to adverse weather conditions and the arrival of Hurricane "Beryl". As a result, the fishermen are incurring costs for catching and storing the lobsters without being able to sell them.

Canto Noh stressed the need for Cofepris to expedite the permit process to help the fishing sector. He also noted that unlike previous years, the price for this season's catch is yet to be established, creating further uncertainty.

Last season, the price was 500 pesos per kilogram for live lobster, 650 for the tail, and 350 for the whole lobster. However, Canto Noh warned that these prices could decrease this year.

In addition to these challenges, the fishing community is also grappling with the illegal sale of lobsters on social media. The recent free distribution of lobsters was a bid to raise public awareness about these issues, including the need to respect the lobster's rest period from March to June, which illegal sellers often ignore.