Fresh Fish / 14ymedio

A young man with his recently caught fish near Havana's Malecon. (14ymedio)
A young man with his recently caught fish near Havana’s Malecon. (14ymedio)

14ymedio bigger14ymedio, Havana, 15 April 2016 – Near Linea Street in Havana’s Vedado neighborhood, a young man is selling this fish he just pulled from the sea. After hours on the water in a makeshift craft, the bold sailor has managed to hook a huge fish that he is offering for 20 convertible pesos, the equivalent of a months’ wages for a professional.

The sale of the beautiful specimen is accompanied by the epic of the fish. The young man brags of the difficulties he faced, the long time he had to wait to snag the fish, and even relates his surprise at the moment it emerged from the water. His face is filled with happiness on knowing that this afternoon, thanks to the fish, his family will be able to buy a little chicken, a bottle of oil and even some soft drinks for the kids.

Despite being surrounded by the sea, Cubans find it very difficult to get fresh fish. The managers of private restaurants must jump through hoops to ensure the supply of this product on their menus. They depend, in most cases, on the illegal market and fishermen like this young man, whose fish will probably end up this very night in the kitchen of one of these paladares (or palates, as private restaurants are called).