Industrial fishing is the worst enemy for the ocean and for artisanal fishing, says Luis, a 42-year-old artisanal fisherman in Santa Rosa. The catching methods used by the big tuna-ships are far from sustainable. Highly polluting and killing many other species along with their regular catch, there’s no real control at the shores and in the high seas.

But oil cargo’s (even bigger ships) sail at high speed and have destroyed local fishing boats and killed fishermen repeated times.

Without forgetting the pirates, who violently steal engines and other valuables, with guns and other weapons. “All we have left is to trust God every time we embark to work”. Says Luis.

On average, fishermen and crew make 70 USD per person after a three-day-journey. Far from being a profitable job, this and the many other jobs on the shore feed entire communities and earn a living to thousands of families in Ecuador, and millions in the world.