MEXICO: subsidies in sight for the Mexican fleet?

In the past weeks Mexican fishermen having been staging protests against price increases in diesel. Some of them had even threatened to block oil installation of PEMEX, the Mexican oil company.

The actions by fishermen were ended after representatives from government and from fishermen signed a memorandum of undertanding on 31 january 2009. The memorandum contained a number of provisions whereby money will be provided by the government for scrapping of vessels.

Eventhough the detailed content of the memorandum of understanding, the press has quoted representatives of the fishermen as saying that a total of 170 million Mexican Pesos (11.7 million USD) will be paid to fishermen for scrapping of vessels.

Here is the link to the press release by the government (in Spanish):

http://www.presidencia.gob.mx/prensa/sagarpa/?contenido=41976

This is a link to a press article with statements from the fishermen representatives:

http://www.poresto.net/campeche/19750--retiraran-mas-barcos