This is the second in a series of stories covering the Peruvian fishing industry and was originally published on Mongabay’s Latam site. Read the first story here. In early April, 13 leaders representing more than 60 artisanal fishing unions traveled to the city of Lima from different parts of the Peruvian coast. Their aim: stopping the approval of two bills they say put the Peruvian sea at risk and violate the rights of artisanal fishers. The proposals, presented by members of Congress Lady Camones of Alliance for Progress and Darwin Espinoza of Popular Action, both conservative political parties, seek to modify Law No. 31749. This law recognizes traditional and artisanal fishing and promotes its preservation within 5 nautical miles of the Peruvian coast. While the law was passed a year ago in April 2023 and published the following month, its regulations still have not been officially adopted due to unusual delays. A fisher in an artisanal boat in the Ballestas Islands in the town of Paracas, Peru. Image courtesy of Oceana. Law No. 31749 only allows the use of unmechanized equipment by fishers categorized as “artisanal.” Under the proposals, fishing activity would be recategorized, with “smaller-scale” fishing activity that includes the use mechanized and nonselective gear added to the category of artisanal fishing. The proposals would also eliminate a measure prohibiting boats that use mechanized equipment from fishing within 3 nautical miles of the coast. Camones and Espinoza have offered little public explanation as to why they believe their…This article was originally published on Mongabay
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