In 2014, investments in jellyfish fishing in La Mosquitia, Honduras, initially provided economic benefits to local communities. However, over the years, fishers faced declining yields, extreme weather impacts, and financial risk, resulting in disillusionment as the industry failed to sustain livelihoods. Indigenous communities, primarily Miskitos, confront increasing poverty and violence, experiencing the brunt of this economic uncertainty.

In 2014, Chinese investors recognized the potential of jellyfish in La Mosquitia, eastern Honduras. They established a processing plant to export jellyfish to China, regarded as a delicacy. This venture encouraged local communities to engage in jellyfish fishing, providing a crucial income source in a region facing limited job opportunities and aiding community resilience despite ecological concerns regarding large-scale harvesting.

Many fishers found jellyfish fishing to be a safer alternative to risky lobster fishing, which posed serious health risks. José Luis Centeno, president of the Territorial Council of Rayaka, reflects, “When the jellyfish industry arrived, we had high hopes…” However, a decade later, the industry has seen dwindling yields, with only two successful years, 2016 and 2021, since its inception.

Terencio Escobar, a community leader, highlights the industry’s decline: “Now, the processing plant stands still for around nine months every year.” Adverse weather conditions, such as heavy rainfall, greatly affect jellyfish quality, rendering them inedible and negatively impacting the fishers’ catch.

The jellyfish’s sensitivity to climate changes limits harvesting to ideal weather conditions during the three-month sunny season in Honduras. Extreme weather events frequently interrupt fishers’ activities, as demonstrated in 2024 when tropical storm Sara halted operations for two months due to flooding.

Fishers experience significant financial uncertainties as payments for jellyfish caught fluctuate. Earnings are deducted arbitrarily by processing plant managers, resulting in variable compensation depending on factors beyond their control. Operating costs further strain their profits, with some needing to catch 65 buckets just to break even.

Jellyfish from La Mosquitia are commercially undervalued compared to their retail price in countries where they are considered delicacies. While the global market sells salted jellyfish for approximately £35 a kilo, local production costs remain substantially lower at around £5 a kilo.

The decline in jellyfish production since 2014 has adversely impacted Indigenous communities, primarily the Miskitos. This remote region lacks adequate state resources, leaving it vulnerable to violence and drug trafficking, exacerbated by unemployment and poverty.

Residents often find themselves ensnared in conflicts related to drug trafficking, and the region’s isolation means that basic supplies are disproportionately expensive. Many fishers face significant debts due to unpredictable weather conditions impacting their yields.

In this male-dominated industry, women working in processing facilities face similar challenges. Despite the demand for their labor, they earn far below the minimum wage, leading to financial insecurity. Sintia Monico Lopez, a processing plant worker, shares, “Those days we are not paid at all.”

Centeno expresses disappointment over the jellyfish industry’s failure to uplift the community. He states, “The community is bearing the industry’s risks, not the benefits,” reflecting the broader disillusionment felt by local residents.

The initial promise of the jellyfish industry in La Mosquitia has diminished due to climate vulnerabilities, economic volatility, and inadequate support for local communities. While it provided a temporary boost in income, the industry’s sustainability remains precarious, exacerbated by external pressures such as weather changes and crime. Indigenous communities continue to face significant challenges, necessitating a reevaluation of the economic strategies that were once viewed as a source of hope.

Original Source: www.theguardian.com

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