The fisherman’s life is no joke, it doubles the risk to your life, especially if the weather is bad and when your engine is having trouble. I am Melanie Betorio, living on the island of Trinidad Tubabao. Fishing is what we count on to survive.
In today’s era we are affected by poverty and by the pandemic going on in the world, especially when fish and crab catches are scarce or very small. It is difficult to budget if the daily income is minimal, especially for family needs, such as food and my children's educational supplies. So even if the weather is bad, we will be patient and go to sea to afford family expenses.
Another big impact on our fishermen is the relentless illegal fishing that is destroying marine resources. Because of this, we catch very little. We also have the fear of our nets being stolen, as they are our primary source of income. Another challenge for us is the rising price of commodities, especially fuel which often costs more than our income. But despite all this, we will continue to work for our family.