Due to the inability to maintain the cold chain because of a lack of electricity and ice, the Aquaculture Base Business Unit in the Camagüey municipality of Sibanicú has opted to preserve fish using traditional techniques: in brine and under the sun.
The process involves soaking the fish in salted water for three days and then drying it for another three days. According to Adrián Velazco, the brigade chief of the entity, the team is ready to "work tirelessly" to ensure that nothing is lost due to spoilage.
According to a report from the official newspaper Adelante, the catches, which amount to between 2.5 and three tons daily, are distributed among prioritized agencies and sold to the public in seven fish markets located in the municipalities of Guáimaro and Najasa.
The main species are tench and carp, with an annual production plan of 1,355 tons. Despite the challenges, the goal is to meet this plan, as confirmed by the director of Acuinicú, Armando Peña Guerra.
The official also acknowledged that they are currently trying to recover the compressor from the ice plant, which is essential for maintaining the refrigeration of the catches. The lack of ice severely limits the sanitary conditions of the production process, but the “solution” has been to revert to rudimentary methods.
The information attempts to sell what is essentially disguised precariousness as resilience. The return to pre-industrial methods is not a sign of ingenuity, but rather a reflection of a system unable to maintain the basics.
In the middle of 2025, the state-owned company from Camagüey celebrates that it can dry fish in the sun because it has no electricity or ice. That is the true picture of the country.
Cuba remains mired in a constant energy crisis. For this Saturday, July 12, the Electric Union forecasted that blackouts will continue throughout the country. During peak hours, an impact of 1540 megawatts (MW) is estimated.
The prolonged absence of electricity prevented timely irrigation and affected all varieties of tobacco cultivated in the municipality of Consolación del Sur, in the province of Pinar del Río, where more than 385 hectares were lost, it was revealed recently.
The multisystemic crisis in Cuba has forced many citizens to seek extreme solutions to meet basic needs such as doing laundry. A video that went viral on social media showed in April a Cuban woman using a washing machine connected by hose in the middle of a river, in a desperate attempt to maintain hygiene in her home.
Similarly, a Cuban resident on the island shared a video on TikTok showing how she had to wash clothes in the river because there was no water or electricity in her home.
Local initiatives are promoting the use of charcoal briquettes as an emerging solution for preparing food. In fact, official media has showcased striking images of people cooking outdoors, in precarious conditions, lit by makeshift lights or surrounded by rudimentary utensils, with hands covered in soot from the use of charcoal and firewood.
For many Cubans, this "solution" recalls difficult times, when improvising with firewood and a stove was the only way out.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Energy Crisis and Fish Conservation in Cuba
How is the company Acuinicú in Camagüey preserving fish in the absence of electricity?
The company Acuinicú in Camagüey is using ancestral techniques to conserve fish, due to the lack of electricity and ice. This includes immersing the fish in salted water for three days and then drying it in the sun for another three days.
What species of fish are being caught and how are they distributed in Camagüey?
The main fish species caught in Camagüey are tench and carp. The catches are distributed among prioritized organizations and are sold to the public in seven fish markets located in the municipalities of Guáimaro and Najasa.
What is the annual production plan of the company Acuinicú and how does the energy crisis affect its fulfillment?
The annual production plan of the company Acuinicú is 1,355 tons of fish. The energy crisis severely affects the ability to meet this plan, as it restricts the use of compressors for producing ice and maintaining the proper refrigeration.
What impact does the energy crisis have on other productive sectors in Cuba?
The energy crisis in Cuba has a devastating impact on multiple sectors, including agriculture and fishing. The lack of electricity hinders timely irrigation, affecting crops such as tobacco, and paralyzes fishing operations due to shortages of ice and energy, as evidenced in the fishing industry of Niquero, Granma.
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