Indigenous Women’s Network Raises Alarm Over FAO’s Support for Industrial Aquaculture

Original article: Red de Mujeres Originarias por la Defensa del Mar en alerta por dichos de la FAO en favor de acuicultura industrial

At the III World Summit on Small-Scale Fisheries held at FAO headquarters in Rome, the organization’s top official presented industrial aquaculture as a viable alternative capable of producing food under better conditions than nature, raising doubts about the nutritional value of traditional fishing.

This statement sparked strong backlash from artisanal fishing organizations and indigenous peoples attending the summit.

In response, the International Planning Committee for Food Sovereignty (IPC) which represents small-scale fishery networks from various regions, issued a public statement rejecting the FAO’s remarks and demanding an apology.

From Chile, Ingrid Echeverría Huequelef of the Indigenous Women’s Network for the Defense of the Sea took the floor.

During her address, she asserted that indigenous peoples do not require external instructions to produce nutritious food—a practice they have maintained for centuries—and added that the fishing activities of these communities extend beyond mere productivity.

«Our activities are part of our culture and spirituality, which respects all beings inhabiting the same territory,» stated the leader, who is involved in artisanal fishing.

Echeverría emphasized that Law 20.249, which establishes Marine Coastal Spaces for Indigenous Peoples (ECMPO), also known as the Lafkenche Law, provides an effective mechanism to protect related activities: all the tasks before and after capture that, while not directly extracting resources, are essential for the development of the fishing production chain, most of which are carried out by women.

«This law is the legal tool we have in Chile to protect the sea and artisanal fishing practices, for both indigenous communities and artisanal fishers in general. There are currently initiatives aimed at modifying it, which we do not support. It is not an exclusionary law; it obligates us all to gather and discuss. If they wish to change it today, we will be left with nothing,» the representative of the Indigenous Women’s Network asserted.

Criticism of the Chilean Delegation

Grassroots organizations also criticized the Chilean official delegation for lacking representation from indigenous communities and for the absence of a voice that emphasizes gender equity in artisanal fishing within these spaces.

«It is very challenging to reach these platforms, and we still lack representation for us: the indigenous peoples who have maintained the only truly sustainable fishing,» highlighted Ingrid Echeverría Huequelef.

Ultimately, the women emphasized that their participation in events such as this Summit largely depends on support networks and alliances, expressing concern that the implementation of the PPE Guidelines continues to be discussed in international forums without direct representation from indigenous peoples, who still rely on artisanal fishing for their livelihoods.

We will continue to provide updates.