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At World Ocean Summit last week, EDF's oceans team unveiled our new “Portraits of Change," video series.

The videos were filmed on the ground in six different countries where EDF is working with fishing communities. They provide a powerful firsthand account of the battles faced by fishers and fish workers.

Watch "Portraits of Change" now:
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"Portraits of Change" offers us a glimpse into the lives of fishers and their communities as they battle the effects of climate change, COVID-19 and other challenges.

Declining fish populations, increasingly common extreme weather events and disruptions due to climate change, COVID-19 and more have put their health and livelihoods at risk.

These are their stories, told in their own words, and they underscore the critical importance of tackling climate change and providing new solutions to increase ocean resilience. They also reveal the remarkable tenacity, creativity and resilience for which fishers have long been known.

Today, roughly 3 billion people rely on fish as an essential source of protein, and nearly a billion people rely on fish for micronutrients that they cannot get from any other food source. Furthermore, hundreds of millions of people — from fishermen to seafood processors — depend on fish for their livelihoods.

But our oceans face major threats that diminish their ability to support the communities that rely on them. Between overfishing, habitat loss, climate change and even COVID-19, fishers are increasingly fighting an uphill battle to protect their primary food source and livelihoods.

The eight "Portraits of Change" shorts feature fishers from Mexico, Peru, Chile, Cuba, Indonesia and the U.S. who have partnered with us on fishery projects funded in part by EDF member donations:
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You'll hear from people like Ernesto Gastelum, a fisher from Mexico:

“Every step we take, we need to think of our children, of our nephews, our grandkids. What kind of Mexico, what kind of world, what kind of seas and oceans are we leaving them? The present and the future of fishing is in our hands.”

And Suhendra, a crab fisher from Indonesia:

“The ocean is number one for me. It is important. The life of my family depends on the ocean. I can send my children to school by catching fish... That is why we have to protect the ocean. If the ocean is damaged or sick, there will be nothing left for our children.”

I hope you'll take a few minutes to watch these bite-sized videos to hear first-hand how EDF members make a difference in the lives of people like Ernesto and Suhendra.

Thank you for making time to listen to their stories,

Emily Stevenson
Manager, Online Membership

Take me to the videos:
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P.S. Each video was recorded on the fisher’s personal camera phones to minimize the potential spread of COVID-19. EDF produced “Portraits of Change” to demonstrate to policymakers how climate change and other stressors affect individuals and communities and to underscore the need for reforms. Sharing your favorite video on social media is an easy way to lend your support.
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