San Pedro Fishing Cooperative, known as Caribena Producers, Cooperative Society Limited, 1960's
The cooperative received lobsters at the beach from the fishermen who received a redeemable receipt at their small office set up downstairs of Tio Pil's house. The lobster tails were handled by Caribbean Queen in Belize City. By now Caye Caulker was receiving $2.10 per pound in the U.S. markets so San Pedranos kept working hard for their own freezers and processing plant. The break of good luck came in 1964 when Jim Blake, son of James Howell Blake, brought an American named Adam Smith to the island and he promised to help them with their processing plant - equipment, generators, compressors, refrigeration equipment, etc. provide they sold to him and pay him 20 percent of their profits of each shipment.
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Photograph courtesy Ambergris Today
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