Groups in favor and against the reform of the Fisheries Law hold sit-ins outside the National Assembly

In twelve buses dozens of representatives of the fishing organizations of Esmeraldas, Manabí, Santa Elena, El Oro and Guayas (Posorja), arrived in Quito this Wednesday to hold a sit-in outside the National Assembly to demand that the project of Reform Organic Law to the Organic Law for the Development of Aquaculture and Fisheries.

With posters and whistles, the community members shouted “Yes to reform” and they found another group of protesters at the site who were against the proposed changes, who also came to the outside of the Legislative to be heard.

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Mariana Quijije, president of the Friends of the Sea Association and representative of the Posorja fishing sector, assured that if the reform is not approved, more than 100,000 jobs would be put at risk.

The leader recalled that the law was approved in the middle of the pandemic, on April 20, 2020, “without anyone knowing.”

In said regulation, Quijije ensured that its small vessels, which supply the local market with small pelagics, were categorized on equal terms with those of greater draft such as tuna vessels, which also resulted in equality in the table of fines and categorization, with penalties of $ 80,400, more than the cost of one of its vessels. “We have sealed boats closed for a year, and up to 36 fines of $ 80,400 each, more than $ 400,000 in total, how are we going to pay if they take the coercion from us,” said Quijije, who pointed out that for an infraction they put a stamp on them. closure for 60 days to a ship, leaving all those families without jobs and food.

Meanwhile, one of the organizations that are against the reform is the National Federation of Fishing Cooperatives of Ecuador (Fenacopec). In a video on its Twitter account, the union explains that “small vessels”, which are now categorized as industrial by law, have mechanized fishing gear and greater catching power than an artisanal vessel (fiber), to which Fenacopec represents.

The union explains in the video that the reform of article 107 of the Fisheries Law would allow vessels, now categorized as industrial, to fish within the 8 exclusive miles for artisanal vessels.

During the pandemic, the National Assembly approved more laws in relation to 2019

“Where there are not only small pelagics, but also fish that have very slow reproductive levels and would not support an increase in fishing efficiency.”