Caye Caulker’s Maria Allen Named “Fisher of the Year”

Maria Allen

A Caye Caulker woman has been named “fisher of the year” by the Belize Wildlife Conservation Society. Maria Allen, who grew up in a fisherfolk family, and she has been fishing for over thirty years.  Today she shared her experiences in the fishing industry.

Maria Allen, Fisher of the Year 2021

“My father was a fisherman, Teodoro Allen. He was a founder of the Northern Fishermen Cooperative. So, through him that is how I got to be a fisherwoman because I always used to go out with him and it really excited me and that is how I got into it.   My husband he wasn’t really into the fishing but I introduced him to it. He is a first-timer with me. We do lobstering, deep sea fishing; shallow fishing and we sometimes do the conch but not really. It is very interesting and nice. You get to see all sorts of stuff and you see something different every day.  We do lobsters in the shades and traps; those are the two types we do. We build the traps ourselves, my husband and two sons who I forgot to include but they are also fishermen and work along with us. So, we build the shades and traps.  On Caye Caulker I have lots of friends and I tell them it is nice to do not only for the money but you get to learn a lot. So, I try to instill a lot of emphasis not only with the women but men too and so the younger generation coming up, I try to instill in them it is good to be a fisherman. There is money to make but you also have a job and don’t have to depend on anyone.”

Victoria Tun of Dangriga and Nestor Lopez, of Corozal Town were also selected as Outstanding Fishers of the Year. The Fisher of the Year will receive two thousand dollar cash prizes; while the two Outstanding Fishers will receive a combined total of one thousand dollars in cash and prizes.