Meet the fearless women of Puerto Peñasco who live and work by the rhythms of the Sea of Cortez
Reprinted from Puerto Peñasco newsletter
PURETO PENASCO – At sunrise, long before the first tourists stroll the malecón, a small fleet of women walks the shore of Puerto Peñasco. Some wade into the waves to gather fresh clams, others mend fishing nets stretched across old wooden boats. A few carry coolers filled with shrimp and octopus to set up their stalls by the marina.
These women are known locally as Las Sirenas de Peñasco—not mythical mermaids, but real-life guardians of the traditions, knowledge, and sustenance the Sea of Cortez provides.
One of them is Ana María Torres, who learned to fish with her father at the age of six. Now in her 40s, she balances raising three children with the demanding work of cleaning and selling the day’s catch. “My life has always been with the sea,” she says. “I know its moods. I know when the water will be generous and when it’s best to stay home.”
For generations, women like Ana have played a vital role in Puerto Peñasco’s fishing economy. They sort and sell seafood, mend nets with expert fingers, and keep track of safe fishing spots passed down through their families. Their knowledge has helped generations survive storms, poor seasons, and shifting markets.
But Las Sirenas do more than work—they embody resilience. María del Carmen Soto, who runs a small seafood stand, remembers when hurricanes destroyed her home twice. “Each time, I rebuilt. I won’t leave the sea,” she says. Her stand, decorated with hand-painted fish, is as much a symbol of determination as it is a place to buy the freshest scallops in town.
These women also face challenges, including competition with commercial fisheries, climate change affecting marine life, and, at times, skepticism from those who still view fishing as a man’s world. Yet they persist, often forming cooperatives to negotiate fair prices and share equipment.
While visitors come for sun and sand, they might overlook the quiet strength of these women who keep Puerto Peñasco’s traditions alive. The next time you buy seafood along the malecón, remember that the hands serving you may belong to a sirena who has spent her life rising with the tides, tending to the gifts of the Sea of Cortez, and weaving a legacy as deep and enduring as the ocean itself.
