Fishermen fear losing livelihood in Peru
Fishermen in Peru's largest port fear losing livelihood amid modernization and overfishing
In this Dec. 1, 2012 photo, fisherman Alvaro rows a small boat during a fishing expedition in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of El Callao, Peru. Fishermen living around Peru's largest and oldest port have harvested the sea as a means of survival since the 16th century. Many fear a project to modernize El Callao, transforming it into the most important port on South America's Pacific coast, will force them to abandon fishing. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
EL CALLAO, Peru (AP) -- Fishermen living around Peru's largest port have harvested the sea as a means of survival since the 16th century.
Their way of life, however, is soon bound to change.
Many of them fear a project to modernize El Callao, transforming it into the most important port on South America's Pacific coast, will force them to abandon fishing.
Development of the port undertaken by APM Terminals, a global shipping industry giant based in the Netherlands, will expand port operations over the next several years.
The impact that modernization may soon have on fishing isn't the only worry weighing down on the port's fishermen.
Decades ago, Peru's coastline provided a plentiful bounty. But overfishing has depleted the waters of scorpion fish, horse mackerel and mullet.
Fishermen once arrived at El Callao's pelican-infested docks and sold as much as 110 pounds of fish. These days, no more than 15 pounds are offered.
