Ingenuity at sea: Cubans use makeshift rafts known as 'corchos' to catch elusive fish

COJIMAR, Cuba (AP) — From a distance, they look like tiny white dots floating on the sea. But get closer, and you’ll see people sitting on polyfoam rectangles.

They are fishermen floating on makeshift rafts that have become common on the waters off the coast of Havana, as Cubans find innovative ways to fish in a country where it’s complicated — if not impossible — to buy a fishing boat.

As dawn breaks on calm days, hundreds of fishermen set sail in their unusual rafts, known as “corchos” (or corks), along the coasts surrounding the capital, including Cojimar, a fishing village immortalized by Ernest Hemingway, who was passionate about fishing.

The “corchos,” which are usually made of polyfoam sheets pressed by aluminum rods, are about 2 meters long (6 feet) by 1 1/2 meters (5 feet) wide, creating enough space for a person to climb aboard with his fishing rod, reels, pliers and hooks. Most use oars, but some fishermen have installed small engines to ease the physical effort at sea.

They may not be pretty, but they float, and the fishermen claim they don’t sink regardless of how strong the waves might be.

“It’s in our blood,” said Miguel González, 36, proudly holding up an albacore tuna. “We enjoy it whether there’s fish or not.”

Equipped with water for their five-to-six-hour trips, these fishermen also rely on their ingenious “jigs,” handmade squid imitations of resin and iridescent paper, to lure large fish avoiding live bait.

For the “corcho” fishermen, who cannot afford to buy or build a boat, these makeshift rafts mean food on the table and, if the catch is good, some fish to sell at markets or restaurants for extra income.

A small boat in Cuba cost around $30,000, according to some of them, a stark contrast to an average monthly salary of $25. And although many Cubans receive remittances from family members in the U.S., it’s still not enough.

Despite the challenges, the “corcho” men are deeply passionate about their work and have formed a close-knit community.

“We help and support one another,” said Rayner Sánchez, a 35-year-old fisherman. “We all fish together here. If anything happens to one of us, we’re all in it together. Nobody fishes alone.”

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

A fisherman transports his makeshift raft through traffic along the boardwalk in Havana, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Fishermen talk after a day of fishing on makeshift "corcho" rafts next to a classic American car loaded with garlic and onions for sale in Cojimar, east of Havana, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

A fisherman carries his catch of the day after using a makeshift "corcho" raft in Cojimar, east of Havana, Cuba, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

A fisherman's catch of the day lays on a makeshift "corcho" raft before being covered and transported from the Malecon sea wall in Havana, Cuba, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

People relax next to the day's catch after fishing on makeshift rafts in Cojimar, east of Havana, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Fisherman nicknamed "El Guajiro" poses for a photo with his catch of the day and his makeshift "corcho" raft in Cojimar, east of Havana, Cuba, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

A hammerhead shark lies on the boardwalk as the fisherman who caught it retrieves his makeshift raft in Cojimar, east of Havana, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Ernesto Abel Casillas fishes on a makeshift raft at dawn in Cojimar, east of Havana, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

A man shows off the day's catch after fishing on a makeshift raft in Cojimar, east of Havana, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

People fish on makeshift rafts in Havana, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Fisherman Miguel Gonzalez poses with the day's catch and his makeshift raft at his home in Cojimar, east of Havana, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

A man on a makeshift raft prepares to fish at dawn in Cojimar, east of Havana, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

A fisherman hands over the day's catch from a makeshift raft in the water to the shore in Cojimar, east of Havana, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

People fish on makeshift rafts at dawn in Cojimar, east of Havana, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

A fisherman sits on his makeshift "corcho" raft as he shows off his day's catch in Cojímar, east of Havana, Cuba, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

A fisherman places the day's catch on the boardwalk after fishing on a makeshift raft in Cojimar, east of Havana, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

A fisherman carries a makeshift raft on his back in Havana, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Veteran Australia batter Usman Khawaja has announced he will retire from international cricket after the fifth Ashes test beginning Sunday at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

He didn't go quietly.

The Pakistan-born Khawaja, who was the first Muslim to play for Australia, used his retirement announcement Friday to criticize the “racial" stereotyping he experienced during his career.

It will be the 39-year-old Khawaja's 88th and final test — played at the ground where he began his first-class career. Khawaja scored his first Ashes century at the SCG with 171 against England in 2018.

It was also at that the SCG where he revived his career at age 35, scoring two centuries against England. That prompted one of the great late-career revivals, as Khawaja hit seven centuries in his next two years back in the side.

But Khawaja’s position had come under scrutiny and criticism this season after being unable to open in the first Ashes test in Perth due to back spasms and then missing the Brisbane test with the injury.

He was then initially left out in Adelaide until Steve Smith’s vertigo allowed Khawaja to return, before an 82 in the first innings there ensured he would stay in the side for the fourth test in Melbourne. Australia, with a 3-1 lead going into the fifth test, has retained the Ashes.

Khawaja said he felt he was treated “a little bit different, even to now,” because of his Pakistan and Muslim background.

"Different in the way I’ve been treated, different in how things have happened,” he said at a media conference in Sydney. “I had back spasms, it was something I couldn’t control. The way the media and the past players came out and attacked me . . . I copped it for about five days straight. Everyone was piling in.

“Once the racial stereotypes came in, of me being lazy, it was things I’ve dealt with my whole life. Pakistani, West Indian, colored players...we’re selfish, we only care about ourselves, we don’t care about the team, we don’t train hard enough."

Khawaja said he knew the end of his career was imminent.

“I guess moving into this series, I had an inkling this would be the last series," he said. "I’m glad I can go out on my own terms.”

Khawaja has scored 6,206 runs at an average of 43.49 in his 87 tests with 16 centuries and 28 half-centuries.

“Usman has made a huge contribution to Australian cricket both through his outstanding achievements as one of our most stylish and resilient batters . . . and off field, particularly through the Usman Khawaja Foundation,” Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said in a statement.

“Usman has been one of Australia’s most reliable opening batters and testament to his success was him being named ICC test cricketer of the year the same season that Australia won the World Test Championship (in 2023).”

Khawaja said his No. 1 emotion on announcing his retirement was “contentment.”

“I’m very lucky to have played so many games for Australia the way I have,” Khawaja said. "I hope I have inspired people along the way.”

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja with his wife Rachel and daughters Aisha and Ayla after announcing that he will retire from international cricket following the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Australia, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia Usman Khawaja, centre, sits with teammates after announcing he will retire from international cricket following the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Australia, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia Usman Khawaja warms up during a practice session ahead of the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Australia, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia's Travis Head, right, is congratulated by teammate Usman Khawaja after reaching 50 runs during play on day three of the third Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Adelaide, Australia, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

Australia's Usman Khawaja sign autograph to fans after they won the third Ashes cricket test match against England in Adelaide, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025 (AP Photo/James Elsby)