Last week, the Ecuadorian government handed over food kits to artisanal and longline fishermen who were affected by a fire that destroyed their boats in June when moored in the Manta port. The Governor of Manabí, Aurora Jaqueline Valle Alcívar, reiterated that the state will continue to help the fishers who lost their livelihoods in the devastating event.

Valle Alcívar stated the government under President Daniel Noboa is working on initiatives to revive the fishing sector’s livelihoods. It is collaborating with various public institutions to provide alternatives within the current legal framework to address the needs of those impacted, according to news site El Universo. Loans, financial assistance, and other humanitarian aid are also being considered. In early June, at least 35 boats were destroyed in the fire, prompting authorities to launch an investigation. No human casualties were reported, except for two people being admitted to the hospital with burns.

Three fishermen had been drifting in their boat at sea for eight days, after they were robbed and all means of communication were stolen. Their last contact with family was on June 24, when they were supposed to return to San Mateo, in Ecuador. A Venezuelan purse seiner spotted the men and rescued them on July 3. The fishermen arrived in Manta a day later with the Ecuadorian Navy’s coast guard vessel ‘Isla Santa Rosa’.  Onboard, they had undergone a medical check by a doctor, who concluded that their health was stable, reported several Ecuadorian news sites.

Not much is known about the robbery, as the fishers declined to give a statement and instead went home with their loved ones, who had been gathering at the Manta port Master’s Office since early morning. The fishing community had been anxiously awaiting any news about the missing fishermen and the search mission. This case emphasizes the risk artisanal crews face. Besides mechanical breakdowns and weather conditions, robberies are becoming increasingly common. Pirates even take the engines, rendering a boat ungovernable and leaving the crew to survive on their own.