Japanese fishnap Mexican fishies!

As if Japan needs more fish!

Japan has a reputation for being excessively aggressive in their international fishing activities. I had no idea Mexico was a victim.

During my new years trip to Mazunte, Oaxaca, a group of friends bravely woke up early in the morning to adjourn on a 3-hour boat trip to check out sea turtles, dolphins, and per chance whales. My friend Kevin shared with me a disturbing story told by his elderly sea captain, let’s call him Juan.

Juan is a 60-something year old tour guide and fisher. According to Juan, large Japanese ships have been fishing the Mexican Pacific coast’s bluefin tuna in recent years, setting up large nets overnight and bringing in tons of fish. Juan’s also an activist and has attempted on several occasions to dismantle these nets in the middle of the night, only to be attacked by Japanese tranquilizers.

I was shocked by this story. Granted, this is no proper investigative journalistic piece, but this is just a small taste and a very human recount of what is really happening in Oaxaca’s waters that I wanted to share. Not only is the global fish supply quickly depleting, but many poor fishermen in Mexico’s Pacific Coast are found helpless and enraged.

What’s going to be done about it?

Japanese fishing ship...they're huge!