Wilder Fernández has caught four good-sized fish in the murky waters of a small bay north of Lake Maracaibo. The contents of his net will serve as dinner for his small team before they set out to go fishing again in the evening. But this daily task is now fraught with fear. After 13 years as a fisherman, Mr. Fernández admits he now fears his job could turn lethal.
He worries he might die not from a night-time attack - a past concern - but from a foreign military strike. “It’s crazy, man,” he says of the US warships and fighter jets deployed in the Caribbean, positioned under the pretext of targeting "narco-terrorists" allegedly linked to the Venezuelan government led by Nicolás Maduro.
Since last month, the US has launched at least six strikes on suspected drug-carrying boats in the area, with at least 27 fatalities. The latest strike reportedly had survivors, prompting questions about the legality of the actions under international law.
As worries about safety have intensified, many fishermen have begun to reconsider their profession. “My wife begs me to leave this job, but there’s nowhere else to go,” reflects Mr. Fernández, who fears his boat could be mistakenly targeted.
Amidst this growing unease, Venezuelan President Maduro declared that the country would not submit to American oppression, while his government mobilized militias in response to the heightened threats from the US. Fishermen like Usbaldo Albornoz report that many crew members are now refusing to head out to sea, further jeopardizing a community already facing challenges like piracy and pollution.
The situation poses not just a risk to livelihoods but also heightens the potential for fishermen to be coerced into illegal activities as they are approached by traffickers during this period of fear and vulnerability.
In the face of adversity, some remain defiant. José Luzardo, a veteran fisherman, vows to defend the sovereignty of Venezuela and oppose the military presence threatening their waters. “If they want to kill us, then so be it, but we’re not afraid,” he asserts, encapsulating the duality of fear and defiance felt by many in the community.
He worries he might die not from a night-time attack - a past concern - but from a foreign military strike. “It’s crazy, man,” he says of the US warships and fighter jets deployed in the Caribbean, positioned under the pretext of targeting "narco-terrorists" allegedly linked to the Venezuelan government led by Nicolás Maduro.
Since last month, the US has launched at least six strikes on suspected drug-carrying boats in the area, with at least 27 fatalities. The latest strike reportedly had survivors, prompting questions about the legality of the actions under international law.
As worries about safety have intensified, many fishermen have begun to reconsider their profession. “My wife begs me to leave this job, but there’s nowhere else to go,” reflects Mr. Fernández, who fears his boat could be mistakenly targeted.
Amidst this growing unease, Venezuelan President Maduro declared that the country would not submit to American oppression, while his government mobilized militias in response to the heightened threats from the US. Fishermen like Usbaldo Albornoz report that many crew members are now refusing to head out to sea, further jeopardizing a community already facing challenges like piracy and pollution.
The situation poses not just a risk to livelihoods but also heightens the potential for fishermen to be coerced into illegal activities as they are approached by traffickers during this period of fear and vulnerability.
In the face of adversity, some remain defiant. José Luzardo, a veteran fisherman, vows to defend the sovereignty of Venezuela and oppose the military presence threatening their waters. “If they want to kill us, then so be it, but we’re not afraid,” he asserts, encapsulating the duality of fear and defiance felt by many in the community.
