The Association of Artisanal Fishermen, which brings together some 4,000 small boats in Piura, demanded greater control over these boats from the Government of Dina Boluarte.
Hundreds of artisanal fishermen held a protest march this Wednesday against the presence of Chinese ships, which they accuse of plundering the northern coast of Peru and harming their work.
Carrying Peruvian flags and signs reading "Chinese predatory ships out," fishermen from the ports of Paita and Sechura marched peacefully through the streets of the city of Piura, about 990 km north of Lima.
They denounce that large vessels are carrying out illegal fishing activities that contribute to the depredation of the sea.
"We don't want more Asian boats. These boats fish for the very small species of squid (giant squid) and prey on our sea," declared fishing leader Carlos Bayona to Canal N television. "We want the Government to listen to us. They let those ships enter without satellite tracking," he added.
The General Directorate of Captaincies and Coast Guard of the Peruvian Navy reported in a statement that 11 Chinese flag vessels are on the Peruvian coast with their respective authorization and that they have arrived to carry out the crew replacement.
Subsequently, they will proceed to navigate beyond the 200 nautical miles (about 370 kilometers) of the Pacific Ocean of Peruvian sovereignty to develop their extractive activities.
Given this, the fishing groups demanded greater control over these vessels from the Dina Boluarte Government.
"This illegal incursion represents a serious threat to the sustainability of marine resources," the regional governor of Piura, Luis Neyra, told the press after receiving the fishermen.
The mobilization was organized by the Association of Artisanal Fishermen, which brings together some 4,000 small boats in Piura.
PROBLEM IS NOT NEW
Just a week ago Alfonso Miranda, president of the Fisheries and Agriculture Committee of the National Society of Industries, stated that the presence of Chinese fishing boats in Peruvian territorial waters constitutes a violation of the human and labor rights of Peruvians who work in the industry. fishery.
“In recent days, we have seen four vessels enter the port of Bayóvar, which also do not have the satellite device that they should have to be tracked. This is a serious problem because they confront artisanal fishermen,” the leader said in an interview with RPP on July 18.
Almost a year ago, organizations of local fishermen and environmentalists reported that some 75 Chinese vessels entered Peruvian ports, "supposedly to change crew and renew documents, but none of them had installed the satellite device that Peru requires of foreign vessels." ", denounced the environmental site Mongabay .
According to the Facebook page of the environmental movement of Peru, the regional governor of Piura, Luis Neyra León, showed, through a statement, his support for the hundreds of fishermen in the region who have been affected by the arrival of fishing boats. of foreign origin.
Neyra reiterated her commitment to work and defend the rights of artisanal fishermen and guarantee the protection of natural resources. Meanwhile, he stated that respective actions are already being taken in this case of illegal fishing.
