Solutions in Focus

9 Making money from scraps SOLUTION

Solution provider:

Cecilia García Chavelas, Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Islas del Golfo de California

Summary:

To address the need for proper management of fisheries waste, members of the fishing community El Caracol in Guasave, Sinaloa state, founded Grupo Crustil - a small-scale processing enterprise. The group uses discards from artisanal fisheries to produce fishmeal. The process creates opportunities for alternative income generation, maximises product utilization and mitigates environmental impacts.

Location:

El Caracol in Guasave, Sinaloa, México

Impacts The accumulation of fisheries waste in the estuary, canals and beach is declining. Grupo Crustil processes about 1,000 tons of waste per year! This also reduces the contamination and the risk for infections and diseases. In addition, the enterprise and its activities lead to a change in the community members’ attitude towards reducing the contamination of the estuary, canals and beach. The local population became sensitized for the importance of sustainable fisheries waste management and its impacts on their own health. The members of the group that run the project are no longer fishermen but dedicate all their time to the enterprise. This generates an alternative and productive activity with the creation of new employment opportunities for the entire community: 3 staff in the low season and between 10 to 15 staff in the high season

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