A GROWING number of fishermen are disappearing off the coast of Ecuador as the country faces an unprecedented security crisis.
In Ecuador’s Manabí Province, at least 80 fishermen have gone missing over the past year. Local authorities and fishing communities believe many of them may have fallen victim to criminal groups operating at sea, often referred to as “pirates.”
These attacks are part of a wider surge in violence across Ecuador. The country has seen a dramatic rise in organized crime linked to drug trafficking networks and powerful criminal gangs.
According to official figures, Ecuador recorded more than 9,000 murders last year, making it the most violent country per capita in Latin America.
The wave of violence has affected cities, prisons, and now even coastal waters where fishermen rely on the ocean for their livelihoods.
The port city of Manta, once known primarily for its fishing industry, has become one of the areas most affected by the crisis.
Fishermen say they are increasingly afraid to go out to sea as armed groups target boats for robbery, kidnapping, and extortion.
Authorities are struggling to contain the growing threat as criminal networks expand their influence along Ecuador’s Pacific coastline.
The violence has raised serious concerns about the safety of coastal communities and the future of the fishing industry in the region.
This report examines the disappearance of dozens of fishermen, the rise of maritime crime, and the broader security crisis gripping Ecuador. —Mar 15, 2026
Main image: Insight Crime
