The artisanal fishermen of northern Chocó’s Pacific coast, within the municipalities of Juradó and Bahía Solano, have been combating for over three a long time to guard their marine sources and safe their livelihoods. For the reason that Nineteen Nineties, when industrial fishing for tuna and shrimp started to develop close to their shores, native communities began to note the depletion of the fish shares on which they rely for meals and financial survival. In response, they launched into a protracted journey to ascertain an Unique Artisanal Fishing Zone (ZEPA), the primary of its sort in Colombia, geared toward limiting industrial fishing of their waters and selling the sustainability of marine ecosystems.
The first objective of the ZEPA is to ban or limit sure varieties of fishing, resembling industrial operations, and restrict using tools that would hurt fishing sources in the long run. This not solely seeks to guard the livelihoods of artisanal fishermen but in addition ensures the conservation of the marine ecosystems that assist native communities. Regardless of the progress made, the method has been fraught with challenges, together with tough negotiations, authorized rulings, and lack of enforcement by the authorities.
Through the years, the communities have adopted numerous methods to push for the enlargement of the ZEPA. In 2012, as a result of lack of great progress and the continued impression of business fishing within the space, they filed a well-liked motion lawsuit with the Administrative Court docket of Cundinamarca. They argued that their collective rights have been being violated since industrial fishing not solely broken marine ecosystems but in addition instantly threatened their livelihood and lifestyle. In 2019, the court docket dominated in favor of the communities, acknowledging that their rights to a wholesome surroundings and rational useful resource administration have been being violated.
The court docket’s ruling required state entities, together with the Nationwide Authority of Aquaculture and Fisheries (Aunap), to take concrete measures to delimit and develop the ZEPA, one thing the court docket decided had not been adequately achieved. In 2020, the Council of State upheld this determination, stating that industrial fishing offered no financial advantages to native communities and that state authorities had been negligent in defending the area’s fishing sources.
Nonetheless, regardless of these authorized victories, the communities proceed to face delays within the implementation of the ZEPA enlargement. Over the past three years, interinstitutional dialogue tables have been held with representatives from the federal government, artisanal and industrial fishermen, NGOs, and academia to succeed in a ultimate settlement on the ZEPA enlargement. Throughout these discussions, it was agreed that Aunap’s director, Karen Mejía, would signal a decision to formalize the enlargement. Nonetheless, the signature, which was anticipated by July 31, 2024, by no means materialized.
The delay occurred as a result of Aunap determined to reopen the dialogue to listen to from the commercial sector, significantly the shrimp fishing operators, who declare they weren’t adequately included within the course of. Whereas the communities and different stakeholders imagine the commercial sector had been a part of the negotiations from the start, Aunap selected to deal with the issues of this group, resulting in additional delays. Aunap’s director argued that each one events’ viewpoints have to be thought of earlier than making a ultimate determination.
This variation in route has annoyed the artisanal fishermen and their allies, who worry that the progress achieved to date could also be in danger. Regardless that the method for increasing the ZEPA appeared to be full, the brand new consultations with the commercial sector have reopened the dialogue, as soon as once more suspending the signing of the decision. The communities worry that this might reverse years of labor, negotiations, and favorable court docket rulings.
The present state of affairs leaves the way forward for the ZEPA in uncertainty. The communities hope that Aunap will honor earlier agreements and act transparently to make sure the immediate adoption of the decision. Nonetheless, the extension of the deadline to obtain feedback till October 2024 creates uncertainty about when the enlargement will lastly be applied. In the meantime, the artisanal fishermen proceed to face the challenges posed by industrial fishing to their livelihoods, hoping that their rights might be revered and an answer might be applied that advantages each the communities and the surroundings.
Supply: El Espectador
