Food producer network 2020 grantee

Captain Roberto Silva

Roberto Silva is a certified commercial fisher and US Coast Guard Captain. His more than 30 years in the industry include working as a fishing equipment distributor, a member of the Commercial Fishers Advisory Panel for the PR Department of Natural Resources, a Fishing Vessel Safety Instructor, and the President of the Congress of Fishers of Puerto Rico. Today Roberto works full time catching lobsters via traps and fishing for snappers and swordfish with winches and electric reels. Hurricane María caused many losses for the fishing industry, including for Roberto — he lost every single one of his lobster traps. But fishers are passionate about what they do and Roberto forged ahead. Today he is working to develop his ability to catch swordfish, which is not only a lucrative fishing practice, but also a sustainable one that removes pressure on coral reef species by focusing on open-sea, migratory fish.

WCK’s support will be used to replace the seriously worn and corroded Cummins diesel engine Roberto’s used commercially for more than a decade on his 31-foot fishing vessel named “Blessed.” A new engine will significantly increase the catch of lobster, swordfish, and deep-sea snappers by expanding the distance they can travel. Before Hurricane María, Roberto had one of the largest lobster catches in the eastern area, a title he will work to reclaim with the resulting average increase of 35% in monthly production and the creation of two direct and three indirect jobs.