Costa Chica of Guerrero - Economy

Economy

The Costa Chica is characterized by high indices of socio-economic marginalization and is one of the poorest in the state of Guerrero. Xochistlahuaca is the fourth poorest municipality in Guerrero and the 16th poorest in Mexico. Only 16% of homes have running water and drainage and only 15% use gas for cooking. Only three percent have access to government health care. Very recently there has been migration of men out of the region to work, mostly in tourism centers in Guerrero, such as Acapulco and some other states in Mexico. There is also some migration to the US, such as California, Chicago and North Carolina.

The main economic activities are agriculture, livestock and fishing, with corn being the most important crop, grown for auto consumption. One cash crop is hibiscus, which is sold locally and nationally and another is sesame seed. Other common crops are coconut, mango, and some watermelon. In Xochistlahuaca and Tlacoachistlahuaca the economy is based on agriculture although there is a small but growing commercialization of dairy products such as cheese to outside municipalities. Commerce in this area has been helped by the 1995 construction of highway linking Xochistlahuaca and Tlacoachistlahuaca with the regional commercial center of Ometepec. Marquelia has large expanses of coconut groves, whose fruit is mostly used to produce soap and oil.

There are fifteen main fishing communities, which capture various ocean and lagoon/estuary species. Thirteen of these are completely dependent on fishing, with San Marcos and Marquelia having other economic activities, such as commerce and services. Fishing communities are divided among those that principally fish in open ocean and those that fish in lagoons. Each community has at least one fishing cooperative. The fishing communities include San José Guatemala, Boca del Río, Colonia Juan Nepmuceno Álvarez, Barra de Copala, Marquilia, Playa La Bocana, Barra de Teconapa, Punta Maldonado, Nuevo Tecomulapa, Las Ramaditas, San Marcos, Pico del Monte and Las Peñas. The two locations with the most fishing activity area Barra de Tecoanapa and Punta Maldonado.

Traditional fishermen on the Guerrero coast earn little and are marginalized socially and economically. But they also are exposed to global pressures on the fishing industry in both marketing their catch and fishing rights offshore. It is also threatened by the growing tourism industry in the area. Fishermen supplement what they make by fishing with agriculture (mostly corn) and some livestock. Despite this, it is still a valuable economic activity for the communities that depend on it. Between 2000 and 2003, 1,229 tons of fish and other ocean specimens were captured off the Costa Chica, with a value of just under 2 million dollars. Given the length of the coastline, this is considered low. Major species include huachinango (Lutjanus peru), rock oysters (Crossostrea virginensis), lisa (Mugel sp), bandera (Ariidae), jurel (Caranx caninus), pargo (lutjanus argentiventris) and others.

Seventy percent of the fishermen belong to cooperatives. Fishermen work for themselves, selling to intermediaries. Fishing is limited to ocean close to shore due to the small fiberglass motorboats used. Most fish finds its way to Acapulco, with lesser amounts to Chilpancingo, Tecpan, Chilapa and Tlapa .

Most municipalities of the region are joined by Federal Highway 200, stretching from Acapulco to Pinotepa Nacional in Oaxaca. Most economic development, especially commerce, has taken place along this highway as well, mostly among mestizo inhabitants. Most other roads in the area are in poor condition, either because they are deteriorated or unpaved. During the rainy season, they can be impassable.

San Marcos, which is along Highway 200, is the region’s most important commercial center. It is followed by Ometepec.