1
energy
What is energy?
0 comments
The beer company Corona recruited fishermen to take part in the world’s first ‘plastic fishing’ competition in Mexico.
The event, which was in collaboration with the agency We Believers, saw 80 fishermen compete to make the biggest ‘catch’ of plastic waste off the coast of Mazatlán, Mexico.
Collectively, the fishermen rescued nearly three tons of plastic (about the weight of two cars) with the winner pulling in about 815 pounds and earning $14,800 pesos, the equivalent of a month’s wages.
Whilst it was only the top three fishermen who received money directly from the competition (second and third winning 10,000 and 5,000 peso respectively), the other participants also benefited.
Corona and We Believers hooked them up with Mexico Recicla, the country’s largest recycling company, who paid them for their hauls at rates much higher than they would be for fish.
According to Gustavo Lauria, co-founder of We Believers, Mexico Recicla will be using the plastic to make tools that fishermen use on a daily basis. The company is also in discussion to formalise this arrangement and provide long-term secondary income for the fishermen.
The popularity of the competition has led other Mexican fishing communities to reach out to Corona to bring it to their areas.
