Food producer network 2020 grantee

Jose Chaar

Jose Chaar is a young fisher based in the western municipality of Rincón. Although he has been fishing recreationally since childhood with his father and grandfather, he did not start fishing full-time until after Hurricane Maria. Before the hurricane, he’d graduated as an agronomist from the University of Puerto Rico and was working as a cattle rancher until the storm destroyed his farm. Maria was the push he needed for a new start and to turn his hobby into full-time work. Today he sails the waters of the western part of the island in search of catch to sell to restaurants and hotels.

Having the right equipment in good condition is key to being successful at fishing – it helps increase production, improve quality, and preserve the product. A WCK grant will be used to purchase an ice machine, an essential tool in the daily life of a fisher – some say that ice is just as important as bait in a fishing operation. Jose’s new ice machine will produce more than 300 pounds of ice per day and will help maintain his catch at an optimal condition to ensure that it arrives fresh on local plates. Jose has also pledged that the ice maker will be used to provide other fishers in the community with an accessible source of ice in case of an emergency.