World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP) Condemns Escalating Militarization of Caribbean Waters; Calls for Accountability and Protection of Small-Scale Fishers
The World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP) expresses profound concern following reports that on February 13, 2026, the U.S. military carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel several miles off the coast of Canouan in the Grenadines. According to official statements from United States Southern Command, the strike was conducted by Joint Task Force Southern Spear and resulted in the deaths of three individuals the U.S. military has labeled “narco-terrorists” — without transparent evidence publicly provided.While WFFP underscores the importance of combating illicit trafficking, we are deeply troubled by the increased militarization of Caribbean waters which is traditional fishing grounds essential to the livelihoods, culture, and food security of coastal communities.
This incident compounds earlier tragedies in the region:
• In October 2025, a U.S. strike on a small vessel near the coast of Venezuela — in territory heavily fished by Trinidad and Tobago communities — reportedly killed at least six people, including two Trinidadian men, Chad Joseph and Rishi Samaroo, who community members say were civilian fishers.
• Fear and uncertainty among Caribbean fisherfolk have persisted for months, with many reporting that military operations have disrupted fishing patterns and risk severe harm to non-combatant mariners.
These incidents illustrate a worrying pattern in which military force is applied in or near international waters traditionally used for small-scale fishing, often without clear evidence of criminal activity, due process, or accountability.
The WFFP calls for:
Immediate transparency around the legal basis, intelligence, and evidence used to justify maritime strikes in the Caribbean.
Safeguards to protect small-scale fishers, including clear protocols for vessel identification, engagement, and communication to prevent the targeting of civilian boats.
Regional dialogue involving fishers’ organizations, governments, and inter-governmental bodies to ensure that maritime security operations do not criminalize or endanger legitimate fishing activities.
Affirmation of the Caribbean Sea as a zone of peace, where human rights, livelihoods, and maritime traditions are respected.
Immediately stop all violence, criminalization and killings committed against civilians, and the fishers by US military forces
The World Forum of Fisher Peoples stands in solidarity with fishing communities across the region from the Grenadines to Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and beyond and urges all actors involved in maritime security to prioritize human life, dignity, and rights above militarized approaches.
Contact:
World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP)
Herman Kumara
General Secretary