1965 Gutierrez Infographic Map of Mexico and the Mexican Fishing Industry

This 1965 Tonatiuh Gutierrez infographic map of Mexico promotes the increasing prominence of fishing cooperatives in the country's coastal states, highlighting the comparatively strong numbers of cooperative members versus permisionarios libres (free permit holders). These states are split into five different zones: four coastal zones and a fifth for Mexico City. Illustrations of fishing vessels below each zone provide the percentage of the national total of fishermen, along with the number of cooperatives and the number of permisionarios libres in each of the zones. Smaller ships closer to the coastline provides the same figures for each individual state. Other icons mark airports, freezers, fishing schools, and factories. A table in the upper right corner breaks down each category by state, including the numerous of cooperatives and how many people are cooperative members. Two pie charts in the lower left corner break down the percentage of ships operated by cooperatives and permisionarios libres out of a national total, and even break that percentage down further based on the size of vessel (broken down by tonnage) and their home port.

Fishing Cooperatives in Mexico

Due to pressure from large commercial fishing corporations, fishing cooperatives began forming in Mexico beginning in the 1930s and grew increasingly popular in the following decades. These cooperatives gained popularity in part because of the increasing gap between the costs of operating as a fisherman, but also because of the benefits given to cooperatives following implementation of the Cooperative Law of 1936. To begin with, large, technologically advanced ships, which had been proven to be much more economically worthwhile, as they are able to catch more fish in less time than smaller vessels. These large vessels are well out-of-reach financially of independent operators, but a cooperative is capable of owning such a ship. Cooperatives also have access to markets in the United States and professional organization and management.

Publication History and Census

This map was created by Tonatiuh Gutierrez and published in 1965. This is the only known example.