This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks
The action you just performed triggered the security solution
There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase
You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked
Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page
It’s early morning in the Gulf of California
and an unusual rescue operation is underway
Standing in waist-deep water and sifting through the mud
the women of the Almejera de Santa Cruz fishing cooperative have halted a commercial dredging operation to save a bank of chocolate clams
the women are moving them to a safer part of the lagoon until they reach maturity
Do you have an environmental impact study?’ says Yanett Castro
but finally they allowed us to go in and rescue the clams.”
It’s something of a quiet revolution for the women in Yanett’s town
They have long contributed to the fishing economy but are seldom recognized for their effort
who are most motivated to responsibly manage the fishery
“Part of being a woman is that we naturally seem to care for things more
whether it’s the future well-being of our own family or nature.”
both of her grandmothers were part of the sector
One was a clam collector and the other repaired nets and processed catch
Yanett’s 12-year-old daughter Violeta helps measure the clams
who is studying to be an environmental engineer
The men usually choose to fish higher-value species further out to sea
“which has given women a bit of an edge [with clams] because there isn’t as much competition.”
Yanet and other local fishers participated in a skills-strengthening program organized by the Environmental Defense Fund
the program is part of the foundation’s strategy to support inclusive
sustainable fisheries while ensuring that fishing communities remain economically vibrant
Yanett decided to form an all-female fishing cooperative
“I wanted women to have legal access to fishing permits
I wanted them to start getting paid for a job they were doing for free
It is fundamental to place a real value on the role that women play in this fishery.”
She formed Almejera de Santa Cruz fishing cooperative
Today it includes “nine powerful women” fishing for bivalves in her lagoon
Yanett also helped other women to form two other local co-ops
The result is that a total of 33 women are now formally recognized by the government as fishers
One of the biggest hurdles to starting a women’s co-op was convincing women they could formally organize
‘I cannot believe women can be a part of a co-op
they can access a different way of life and more opportunities.”
The responsibilities of running a cooperative are significant
but then I realized that the men themselves didn’t have a lot of answers.”
“I didn’t want to give all my responsibility away to an accountant
so I am doing a lot of the work myself – soliciting for permits
filing taxes and legal documents and looking for capacity-building opportunities for our members.” Fishermen didn’t want to participate in the biological monitoring of the clam banks because it was not an exciting or paid activity
But women from Yanett’s co-op didn’t shy away and are now responsible for collecting valuable data that is used by NGOs and fishery managers to determine the health of the clam fishery
Being a member of the co-op offers several benefits to women
Because they are officially recognized as fishers
each woman qualifies to receive an annual cash payment from Bienpesca
a Mexican government program that financially supports small-scale fishers to increase production and improve their families’ livelihood
But challenges remain in renewing fishing permits and obtaining fair prices for their catch
“A fair price is what women want the most,” Yanett says
As Yanett has become more confident in her ability to lead others
her advocacy for fishers is growing on a regional – and now national – scale
After participating in a 2018 panel on the social impact of small-scale fisheries
she and other local fishers realized that they needed to speak up and represent their sector in a more positive light
“I wondered why a guy from the government who knew nothing about fisheries was getting all the applause [from the panel]
We need to be that voice for the fishing sector,” she says
Yanett and three other artisanal fishers launched Trazando el Rumbo de la Pesca on Facebook
They didn’t know how to turn on a computer
but they were determined to learn to keep fishing communities connected during the lockdown
Trazando el Rumbo de la Pesca focused on spotlighting fishers’ efforts to protect the environment and gave fishers a platform to be the protagonists of their own stories
They are now considering launching a monthly radio program to spread their message to even the most remote fishing communities
Yanett’s ripple effects go beyond her fishing community in Sinaloa
the first national network of women from the fishing sector
called Sustainable Tide or Marea Sostenible in Spanish
They mirrored an effort by her counterparts in Chile
They have been working for a long time and were successful in changing legislation that recognizes women at the same level as men in the fishing sector,” she says
Marea Sostenible had its first meeting in May of 2024 with 130 women from 13 coastal estates in Mexico
Their goal is to have representatives from all 17 coastal states
Yanett is primarily focused on promoting gender equity in the fishing sector
but also on creating a better future for all the fishers in her community
let’s go fishing,’ without a thought to gender
Fishing is part of our culture and anyone can do it.”
To ensure fishing continues as a traditional and honorable way of living
she says her work today continues to be driven by family
“I’m doing all this for my children,” she says
the whole community used to go out by foot during the low tide to collect clams – men
we had to go further out and dive for them
there were no chocolate clams in the lagoon
after a decade of community-led protection
to work for my fishing community – under the sun and in the water – it’s no sacrifice.”
P.O. Box 2030, Bentonville, AR 72712 | Social Media
By the time the first waitress blew the whistle
forcibly kissed and humiliated for a year and a half by the manager of a Phoenix Mexican restaurant
Five years later — following allegations by five more waitresses — the restaurant boss
Mariscos Altata, are facing harsh penalties in U.S
District Court for allowing "severe and pervasive sexual harassment" to continue for as long as 17 years
"I wanted someone to actually stand up to him," Yolanda V., the waitress who first reported the behavior
"He was doing this to so many women for so many years."
The Arizona Republic does not publish names of sexual-assault victims without their consent
Yolanda asked to use her first name and last initial
The lawsuit and its resulting penalties are a victory in an industry where discrimination is rampant and formal complaints are few
Sexual harassment in the restaurant world has captured increasing attention as the #MeToo and "Time's Up" movements have spread beyond Hollywood and Washington
Hundreds of McDonald's employees staged a strike in 10 cities around the country last week to protest what they described as widespread sexual abuse.
"It's time to say 'I'm not on the menu,' " a protester told a crowd outside McDonald's Corp
MORE: Celebrated Arizona female chefs have criticized the food industry's culture of sexism.
they're the ones that are eventually going to become the minority because we rise up and will not accept what's happening," Charleen Badman
executive chef and co-owner of FnB Restaurant in Scottsdale
Zambrano's advances were a routine occurrence for waitresses
Yolanda told investigators Zambrano liked to squeeze her buttocks and surprise her with bear hugs from behind
He grabbed her face and kissed her when she was taking orders on the phone
He called her "flat butt" in Spanish and told employees she needed breast implants
He shoved a lemon between her shirt and chest and told her it looked better
"He thought it was hilarious," said Yolanda
One woman reported Zambrano required she have sex with him to keep her job and that he shared naked photos of her with co-workers and customers
Attempts by The Republic to reach Zambrano and restaurant owner Francisco Javier Espinosa
An attorney who represented Mariscos Altata in the lawsuit did not return multiple phone and email messages
"Yolanda is so brave and so smart that she spoke up and rejected it," EEOC Regional Attorney Mary Jo O'Neill said
As many as 75 percent of women say they have experienced sex-based harassment at work, ranging from sexual coercion to anti-female comments, according to a review of harassment research by the EEOC
One study found 19 percent of male employees have been harassed
But as few as 6 percent of victims file a formal complaint
"It takes one person to break the silence," O'Neill said
The Mariscos Altata lawsuit almost didn't happen
the federal agency that prosecutes hostile workplace and discrimination complaints
But after Zambrano fired her and her last paycheck didn't arrive
A worker's rights advocate not only helped Yolanda collect the payment
he recommended she report the sexual harassment to the EEOC
When the agency asked Mariscos Altata for interviews
restaurant management refused to cooperate
The company denied the allegations in court filings
three additional waitresses filed charges of discrimination and two others with similar allegations joined the lawsuit once it began
Each was hired after Yolanda left and did not know her
Other employees confirmed Zambrano harassed employees but feared retaliation if they joined the lawsuit
Investigators believed Zambrano had likely been harassing employees since he became the boss in the early 2000s
The women told investigators Zambrano offered to pay for dates or sex
blamed them for others' mistakes or threatened to fire them if they turned down his advances
"You suffer because you want to," he told one woman
according to court records. "If you just cooperate with me
The waitresses described Zambrano touching breasts and buttocks
digitally penetrating another woman at work, commenting on their looks and insulting them
One woman recalled Zambrano asking co-workers to take bets on her age and repeatedly calling her a "worthless old lady."
but your butt can still handle it," he told her
Zambrano eventually fired three of the waitresses
A fourth quit after she was suspended for refusing to have sex with him
Some of the restaurant's employees were immigrants and poor
"These women are just trying to make a living to feed their family in peace," O'Neill said
insomnia and anxiety attacks that made her heart palpitate and her arm go numb
"I don't care if you have all this money in the world
you can't do whatever you want," Yolanda said
The company settled with the EEOC on Friday
Mariscos Altata must pay a total of $220,000 to the six accusers
create anti-harassment policies and train employees to avoid hostile work behavior
The settlement also requires the company to fire Zambrano and never hire him again
Such penalties are just one of the costs harassers inflict on businesses
and its true cost includes decreased productivity
"All of this is a drag on performance — and the bottom-line."
Yolanda said she wants other victims to speak up as she did
"Just because you need a job doesn't mean you have to put up with so much stuff
I think (harassment) won't be as out of control."
Have you been victimized at work? Has a company treated you badly? I'm #HereToHelpAZ. Contact consumer investigations reporter Rebekah L. Sanders at rsanders@azcentral.com, text HereToHelpAZ to 51555 or fill out our online form
Federal law prohibits harassment at most workplaces on the basis of: Race
If a boss or co-worker is harassing you, take these steps recommended by the U.S
How to file a harassment complaint with the EEOCIf a boss or co-worker is harassing you
Most employers with at least 15 employees are covered by EEOC laws. Most labor unions and employment agencies are also covered
There are time limits for filing a charge (180 or 300 days
Federal employees and job applicants have a different complaint process and different time limits
The laws apply to all types of work situations
The EEOC investigates harassment and discrimination related to: Race
disability and genetic information. It also enforces federal law that prohibits workplace retaliation if you file a complaint or participate in an investigation or lawsuit
ask questions or schedule a confidential appointment with an EEOC investigator:
the EEOC recommends scheduling an appointment online or by phone
Intake interviews in Phoenix are conducted 8 a.m
to 3 p.m. every day except Wednesdays
Arizona law requires workplaces to pay your last wages within seven working days or the end of the next regular pay period
If an employer fails to do so, you can get three times the amount of the unpaid wages within the first year
If you are owed $5,000 or less, file a claim with the Arizona Labor Department
which will investigate and may order the workplace to pay
To file a complaint or ask questions of the Arizona Labor Department:
2013 at 5:23 am PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Another Lachman Lane home burglary
a suspect entered a residence through an unlocked door and took laptop computers and money
There was a reported burglary nearby on Feb
If you see anything that you feel is suspicious, but not an emergency, go to www.alertcommunity.com
It allows citizens to document suspicious activity quickly
Pacific Palisades Patch: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates |
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker
After nearly two weeks trapped in an irrigation canal in Sinaloa
a pair of bottlenose dolphins are finally free thanks to the efforts of rescue teams
The two marine mammals entered the canal via the Bay of Altata
a community in the municipality of Navolato
Water levels were high after heavy rains two weeks ago but as the water dropped
the dolphins were left stranded in the canal
Wildlife advocate Arturo Islas said that deep mud and the presence of crocodiles complicated initial rescue efforts
At least 10 days had passed by the time a team of rescuers from the Ostok Foundation and the company Dolphin Discovery were able to catch the first dolphin
which was three meters long and estimated to be 30 years old
the team caught it and transported it in a large tub to the Bay of Altata
It took two more days to locate and catch the second dolphin
which had moved from the area where it was first seen
“It is an animal of approximately 20 years of age and more than 300 kilos
and apparently in good health,” reported Ernesto Zazueta
He said the Culiacán Zoo’s wildlife rescue team
The second dolphin was set free in El Contrabando
a fishing camp near the state capital of Culiacán
With reports from Milenio and El Universal
ADVERTISE WITH MND
COMMUNITY GUIDELINES
Subscription FAQ's
Privacy Policy
Mexico News Daily - Property of Tavana LLC
News about Mexico’s beaches has focused only on the dirty ones
which raised the question by a Mexico News Daily reader
Among the 269 beaches tested by the health regulatory agency Cofepris, 268 were declared “safe for recreational use” because the samples collected contained less than the threshold of 200 fecal coliforms per 100 milliliters of water
(All 269 have since been declared safe after Cofepris changed its mind about Sayulita beach in Nayarit.)
from fewer than 10 coliforms to as high as 191
is the top-10 list of locations with Mexico’s cleanest beaches
all of which tested for fewer than 10 fecal coliforms:
Authorities warn that illnesses from contaminated sea water can come in the form of stomach flu
pink eye and skin and respiratory conditions
Source: Animal Político (sp)
Everything is ready for the Global Melon & Watermelon e-Vent by Rijk Zwaan
which will be held from the 28th of June to the 9th of July at the CED La Palma in Cartagena in a mixed format of field visits and online events
visits will be made to the fields; and in the second week meetings will be held online with clients and with the chain and they will develop seminars with specialists from the sector (retail
market and agritech) to continue to provide value
Global Coordinator for Melon and Watermelon for EMEA
There are many new developments that will be on display at the event this year
the launching of the Galia ‘Ready to eat’ line stands out
following in the wake of the same differentiated cutting point concept in Charentais
19G666 will be presented for the first time in Murcia
which was recently presented in Almeria and that is also suitable for early crops in Murcia
The line is a synonym for a “guarantee of easily identifiable quality” from the fields to the table
and it brings a complete package of resistances to MNSV
34-GE0337 (for Almeria and early crops in Murcia)
which is giving very good results regarding its productivity
and it also has the same pack of resistances as the 19G142
Rijk Zwaan will present its counterseason reference Flechaverde RZ
as the “melon that fits in” in La Mancha due to its size
Sales Representative & Melon Crop Specialist explains
they will reinforce the presence of Minithor RZ (for late crops in Murcia and early ones in La Mancha)
and as a new development they will promote 17P210
a good-sized melon with an excellent taste
Its yellow melon line is being consolidated with Yacal RZ (early-medium)
which reaches optimum sugar levels very fast and stands out for its good flavour and strong plant; Noval RZ (medium cycle); and Hasdrubal RZ (late crop in Murcia and La Mancha)
The entire line of yellow melons includes resistances to powdery mildew 3.5 and aphids (VAT gene)
they will show the Ready to Eat concept and the already consolidated varieties Zinasol RZ (extra early)
the latest development is Coralzinho RZ; in the Tiger segment
Conguita RZ (black skin) and the Tiger Tigrinho RZ and Gatinho RZ are also included in this line according to Javier Climent
Both for greenhouse and open-air growing throughout the entire cycle
they bring early flowering that is maintained over time
as well as a quality marketable product with very few
Tropical Sunshine RZ (black skin and yellow flesh) leads the way for the Tropical concept
under which they will present materials with many different shapes and skin colours
With regard to new developments in crimson triploid watermelons
those attending the Global e-Vent will be able to see Altata RZ
with fruit weighing from 4 to 5 kg for export and recommended for late open -air plantations
with great quality and flexibility of transplant dates for Murcia and La Mancha
the different varieties cultivated worldwide may be seen
the latest mini-sized development in micro seeds is 62-SM1887
get the highlights of the horticultural week