Fish Farms, Family Futures, and the Fight for the Yucatán

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We just returned from a trip to Tabasco to visit fish farms. It might not sound like much, but it is pivotal for not just one, but possibly many families in a small rural pueblo in Quintana Roo.

These families live hand to mouth. Most attempt to do a little farming, but the ground is one giant limestone plateau with a few centimeters of earth scattered over it (and none in other parts). There is no place for the roots to go. There is little rain. BUT there is an unlimited supply of fresh water. However….

The water is under the ground.

Many families have a lot of land and most of that land is virgin jungle rife with strangler figs and short, stocky palms. As you walk through the macheted paths, you find holes in the limestone. Take care, for if you step into one, you will find yourself in a cave filled with water, part of the vast underground river system that spreads all throughout the Yucatan Peninsula.

It is a natural marvel for sure. But one that is in danger from over building by huge resorts that are popping up all along the coast.

You see, the local people have little money, and little hope of successful farming even though many have a lot of land. And so when developers offer them a pittance for their acreage, they hardly think twice before selling out. Cash in the hand has a big appeal when you are struggling to feed your family.

But there is another option. One that will provide ready cash for families, build their feeling of personal power and self-esteem, and give them a reason to hold onto the land their families have owned for generations, protecting it from development and in the process protecting the natural wonder of the cave system in addition to the wildlife; jaguars and other types of wild cats, monkeys, deer, iguanas, fabulous exoptic birds like tocouns and parrots, and of course untold more.

Fish farms.

It is a simple answer. Fish is a natural part of the diet of people living along the coast, but the wild fish in the ocean are bearing the burden of overfishing. What was once an almost endless supply of seafood is dwindling.. . fast.

The land is perfect for small farms with a few tanks of fish. Access to the beautiful water supply is so easy. Open wells already exist naturally everywhere.  The river system below ground is vast and replenished every time it rains. Aquaculture also offers a wonderful solution for single moms to provide for themselves. The work lends itself well to the nurturing strength of the local women and isn’t too burdensome physically.

Fish can be sold to restaurants all along the popular touristy coast, providing a ready market for when the farmers want to sell their fish.

AND….the people will have a way to support themselves, making their land feel more valuable, not just monetarily, but emotionally too. So, when offers come in from big developers, the people will want to turn offers down knowing that the land passed down to them by their ancestors can provide for them, their children and future generations.

And so, Maya Harmony (hi I’m Laura LaBrie and Maya Harmony is my outreach to the world) is working, one family at a time, to provide all the support needed to build and grow small family fish farms.

We need your help. Every penny goes into the project. PLUS, there are fun things you can buy on the website, and all of that money goes into the project too.

Help support a family. Help support a farm. Help us save the land.

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Hugs and butterflies,

Laura