Support for Lobitos, Peru
Between a devasting oil spill and a massive swell, our fishing village is dealing with unprecedented challenges that are impacting our livelihoods, food security, and well-being.
What happened and How to Help:
Our remote coastal community of Lobitos, Peru, is facing an unprecedented crisis. Everyone is struggling to recover from two back-to-back disasters that have shattered livelihoods and endangered futures.
1. An Oil Spill Threatening Our Health
On December 20th, 2024, a catastrophic oil spill polluted our pristine waters, devastating marine life and leaving fishermen, our tourism sector, and, truly, everyone in Lobitos who depends on our ocean unable to work. The spill has contaminated the very ecosystem that sustains our families, causing an immediate loss of income and long-term uncertainty. Until now, PetroPeru, the company responsible for the spill, has provided wrong information, minimized the impact, and not followed through with their legal emergency protocol.
2. A Massive Swell Destroying Boats and Fishing Gear
Adding to this oil spill by PetroPeru, a massive swell has destroyed at least 16 fishing boats and fishing gear — critical tools for our fishermen to provide for their families. Without these boats and tools, their ability to recover from the oil spill or continue their day-to-day trade is severely compromised.
If you’re able, consider making a donation or purchasing a T-shirt—100% of the proceeds go directly toward helping fishing families get back on their feet. You can also add your voice by signing our petition, pressuring PetroPeru to take full responsibility for its disaster and compensate our fishing village for both the economic and non-economic damages caused.
Almost 10 years ago, this is the relationship we saw between the oil companies and fishing communities:
