In Peru, small scale fisheries play a critical role in food security, supplying approximately 95% seafood consumed domestically. Sourcing of PPE and sanitation resources for businesses to open safely has been difficult in the developed world and even harder in countries like Peru where it is urgently needed. Future of Fish is supporting small fishing villages with the necessary tools to safely open for business and provide fish, a vital source of nutrition, to the Peruvian population.
Fishers are essential workers, but in villages like La Islilla that lack of medical infrastructure, even essential fishing is too risky without proper PPE. When COVID hit, roads to the village were closed and business put on pause to help avoid the high death rate that has plagued nearby towns. For essential work to continue safely, La Islilla needs PPE and sanitation resources. Without them, livelihoods and access to supplies are restricted, with painful effects.
At Future of Fish, we are working with our community partners to source the PPE necessary for fishing villages to protect themselves and stay open for business. Starting with La Islilla, we are providing essential supplies such as soap, cloth masks, hand sanitizer and bleach. Fishing vessels need First Aid kits for workers who at sea for up to a month at a time. These items will help the community stay safe and work in order to maintain their livelihoods and feed their families.
In La Islilla, your donation will help over 300 fishers work safely and maintain their livelihoods. As we expand to other communities such as La Tortuga, your support will secure a supply chain for millions of people who rely on fisheries for food and nutrition, both in Peru and abroad. As our work in Peru continues, we're thinking about the ways we can engage with the wider healthcare system, because we know that healthy oceans, healthy fishers, and healthy communities are deeply intertwined.
