Cangrejeros held a seat in front of the Constitutional Court (CC) this Tuesday, September 19, before presenting amicus curiae against the decree of the Law on the Management of Risks and Disasters, sent by President Guillermo on September 5.

According to the National Federation of Artisanal Fishermen’s Cooperatives of Ecuador (Fenacopec), the rejection of the executive project occurs because it includes a provision to grant ownership of shrimp farms on beaches and in bay areas, which, according to them, could affect more than 13,000 artisanal fishermen crabs. The shrimp rejected the position of the crabs.

The crab guilds reject the decree that proposes to grant ownership of the shrimp land

“The leaders of the crab sector are here. We will present a amicus curiae here at the Constitutional Court, so that we can be heard, because we do not agree that concessions for beaches and bays should be given to shrimp farms,” ​​said the president of Fenacopeca, Gabriela Cruz.

According to the leader, when there is a mangrove area and there are shrimp farms, “it will not allow artisanal fishermen to carry out their activities, it is a violation of the rights of nature, the right to work and the criminalization of our fishermen will continue to be recorded. “.

Fenacopec’s position was rejected by shrimp farmers, who indicated last week that the voluntary award of aquaculture concessions does not apply to mangroves and does not affect or change any law related to mangroves.

The Ecuadorian Federation of Aquaculturists (Fedac), which represents the unions of Esmeraldas, Santa Elena, Manabí, El Oro and Guayas shrimp and larval production laboratories, clarified that the decree law “refers exclusively to concession areas, where aquaculture activities are carried out. outside, which shall have no variation in their extension, which are perfectly bounded by their walls, which are used by their concessionaires, and which permit the traffic of shellfish and crustacean pots, as prescribed by Law.

Shrimp farmers reject claims by crabbers and artisanal fishermen over land ownership included in Risk and Disaster Management Act decree

The concern of the crab trade union stems from the content of the ninth reform provision, which refers to the reforms of the Organic Law for the development of aquaculture and fisheries. “There is talk that the transition period should be changed so that the beach and bay concession is sold as shrimp property. “Government (…), when the beach and the bay are going to be renovated, you should charge more fees, but don’t come with the excuse that the property has to be sold, which damaged more than 13 thousand craft crabbers,” he pointed out.

The ninth general provision of the Regulation states: “Owners of concessions for areas of beaches and bays can carry out aquaculture activities, as well as holders of concessions for the use of marine areas, in their natural habitat or in fenced areas specially built for marine aquaculture can be fully or partially mortgaged the right contained in the corresponding authorization, only in favor of the institution of the national public financial system. The mortgage contract must be approved by a public document and registered with the administrative body. For the legal effects of what is considered in the previous paragraph, the shrimp infrastructure will be considered real property.”