Tuna fishermen, from Santa Rosa in Salinas, Ecuador, report that there is a band of pirates active along Ecuador’s coast. This, despite the Navy’s assurance that patrols have increased in the gulf of Guayaquil and other influential zones.
The artisanal fishermen, mostly from origin Manta, maintain that the danger zone for pirates goes from Santa Rosa in Guayas to the province of El Oro. Manuel Calderón is a fisherman who works in Santa Rosa (Guayas) since four years. He says that fishermen work with much fear. "When we have traveled for three hours out at sea in search of tuna, swordfish or dorado, we fear for our lives and our equipment.
Calderón indicated that pirates had assaulted him in two occasions. “The pirates operate in groups of eight and with speedboats". Luis Reyes, another fisherman of Manta, explains that the local marine authorities do not allow them to take up arms to defend themselves. "We are in disadvantage in favor of the pirates. They carry automatic weapons ".
According to the affected fishermen, every month between five and ten outboard motors are robbed off their boats. They assure that the delinquents steal the motors and then sell them to Peru.