Venezuelan Fishermen Face New Dangers Amid US Military Strikes

Tue Oct 21 2025 19:53:50 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A rising tide of fear grips fishermen in Venezuela's Lake Maracaibo as US military operations escalate against alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean, threatening their livelihoods and safety.

The fishermen of Lake Maracaibo are increasingly fearful of foreign military strikes as the US intensifies operations against suspected drug trafficking in the Caribbean. Local fisherman Wilder Fernández expresses his concerns over safety and livelihood amidst rising tensions, while the community grapples with the added threats to their long-standing fishing traditions.

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. However, this daily task is a job he has recently become scared of doing.

After 13 years as a fisherman, Mr. Fernández confesses that he now fears his job could turn lethal. He is afraid he could die in these waters not at the hands of a nighttime attacker - a threat fishermen like him encountered in the past - but rather, killed in a strike launched by a foreign power.

It's crazy, man, he says of the deployment of US warships, fighter jets, a submarine, and thousands of US troops in waters north of Venezuela's coast. The US force patrolling in the Caribbean is part of a military operation targeting suspected 'narco-terrorists', which according to the White House have links to the Venezuelan government led by Nicolás Maduro.

Since last month, the US has conducted at least six strikes on suspected drug-carrying boats in the Caribbean, with the latest being carried out just days before this report. At least 27 people have been killed, but the latest strike appeared to be the first to have survivors aboard the boat. The US has accused those killed of smuggling drugs but has so far presented no evidence.

Tensions between the US and Venezuela escalated further when US President Trump indicated he was considering strikes on Venezuelan soil and confirmed the CIA's involvement inside the country. This has left many local fishermen, like Fernández, worrying about the risk of getting caught in the crossfire. His wife has been urging him to leave the fishing industry, but opportunities elsewhere are scarce.

Ms Nava from the Council of Fishermen in El Bajo laments the ongoing risks that fishermen face, including potential recruitment into the illicit trade as remaining options dwindle. Fisherman Usbaldo Albornoz recently reported that most of his crew refused to work when news of the strikes broke, highlighting a pervasive atmosphere of fear among fishing communities.

Despite this fear, many fishermen have shown resilience. José Luzardo, a veteran fisherman, organized protests to support the Maduro government against the US military presence, indicating a sense of defiance and determination among some members of the fishing community.

As the situation continues to unfold, the impacts on the fishing industry and the safety of those relying on it for their livelihoods remain uncertain. Fishermen on Lake Maracaibo are navigating not only choppy waters but turbulent geopolitical tensions that threaten their way of life.