For artisanal fishers in Guatemala, a long-awaited day of recognition has become a reality.
On June 12, fishing communities along Guatemala’s Caribbean coast gathered to celebrate a milestone years in the making: the country’s first National Day of Artisanal Fisherswomen and Fishermen— an officially recognized day honoring the people whose lives and livelihoods are tied to the sea.
In Tapón Creek, Livingston, Izabal, fishers from associations in Livingston, Puerto Barrios, and Santo Tomás de Castilla came together to celebrate their identity, share experiences, and recognize a livelihood that supports coastal economies, culture, and food security.
“I feel happy today because we are celebrating Fisher’s Day, which is historic for us as fishers,” says Saul Castro, a fisher who participated in the celebration. “We know this is our livelihood. And today, we finally have our own special day.”
The celebration grew out of an effort that began two years earlier, when artisanal fishers, community leaders, government representatives, and other partners came together to discuss the challenges facing Guatemala’s fishing communities.
Those conversations helped inspire Pesca Unida, Fuerza Compartida (United Fishing, Shared Strength), a campaign Rare supports to strengthen collaboration among fishing communities and elevate their shared priorities.
One of those priorities was greater recognition for artisanal fishers and their contributions to Guatemala. June 12 now has official national recognition, reinforced by municipal agreements that underscore the importance and well-being of the artisanal fishing sector.
For the fishers who gathered in Livingston, the first celebration was an opportunity to demonstrate what communities can accomplish when they organize around shared goals.
“It was very important for the communities to be here, so that the authorities could see that we are committed to protecting our resources as a community,” says Rebeca Trochez, a Guatemalan fisher.
That connection between recognition and collective action has been central to the effort from the beginning. By creating opportunities for fishers from different communities and associations to work together, the campaign has helped strengthen a shared identity and a stronger voice for the people who depend on Guatemala’s coastal fisheries.
As Derek Najera, Rare staff in Guatemala, explains: “Their goals are clear: to improve their community, to improve their fishery, and to improve their families’ economic and social well-being.”
The first National Day of Artisanal Fisherwomen and Fishermen marks how far that collective effort has come — and gives Guatemala’s artisanal fishers a new platform from which to make their voices heard.