Scattered beyond the seawall of Cuba’s historic Malecón, small groups of inventive fishermen rely on corcho rafts — ingenious vessels self-crafted from a combination of polyfoam, aluminum rods and wood propelled by oars and small engines. Derived from the Spanish word “corchos,” meaning “cork,” these DIY rafts exemplify human creativity and resourcefulness. In a country where the average fishing boat costs upwards of 30,000 dollars, an amount beyond the financial reach of many Cubans, corchos have become a vital part of daily life.
Corcho fishermen design and build their own small innovative platform rafts — and they’re surprisingly buoyant and easily transported. Many venture out to sea for as long as 5 to 6 hours at a time, stocking their rafts with equipment, provisions and bait. These small crafts are vital — Cuba currently faces severe food shortages. Cuba’s Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz raised the alarm during the annual review of the Ministry of Food Industry1 when he stated “We need food, and above all, proteins.” Many Cubans lack rice and sugar due to Cuba’s ongoing reliance on imports and state inefficiencies. Corcho fishermen are independently striving to harvest local food resources and essential dietary protein.
Corcho rafts are also used in STEM activities (for education on flotation devices) as featured in this “Cork Raft Challenge” on Pinterest.
Corks can be sourced from discarded wine bottles (check with your local restaurant) or purchased online. Several retailers also carry DIY craft cork kits, like this DIY Cork Boat Craft Kit by Ink and Trinket sold on Amazon.
*Corks – Photo Credit :”Wine Corks” by Elisha Terada/ CC0 1.0
**A great photo essay on corcho fishermen was published by AP news along with additional details on the subject.