Food producer network 2020 grantee

Francisco Martinez

Francisco, born and raised on the beaches of Rincón, started fishing at the age of 16 in a paddle boat and devoted himself to fishing for snappers and deep-water species. His father, a policeman and veteran, spent his free time fishing and his uncles worked in commercial fishing. When Francisco was 18 years old he bought his first motorboat — named Menayra — and got a commercial fishing license. Even with a motorboat, he lacked the technology for effective deep-water fishing, so he diversified his work and started fishing for tuna and lobster with trammel nets in order to support his family. Sadly, though, Menayra was damaged by Hurricane Maria and required major repairs, affecting Francisco’s sales and livelihood. He started to work with a business partner while he got his own boat fixed.

The grant from WCK will help Francisco to complete repairs on Menayra, as well as to purchase a 6-person life raft and an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). The US Coast Guard requires this specialized safety equipment to establish a commercial fishing operation. He will also purchase a global positioning device (GPS) and a fish finder. All of this new equipment will enable Francisco to return to fishing on Menayra, which will maximize profits for both himself and his fellow fishers. In addition, it will allow Francisco to make his fishing practices more sustainable and protective of the ocean’s natural resources which, as Francisco likes to say, will guarantee the food of tomorrow.