Ecuador

Ecuadorian fishers are described as bearing the human cost of what critics call US maritime imperialism at sea. The report frames American maritime enforcement and naval presence in the eastern Pacific as imposing economic and physical hardship on small-scale fishing communities whose livelihoods depend on access to these waters. It reflects broader criticism in Latin America and the Middle East of US dominance over international sea routes and fishing zones.

The FDA has warned that black clams imported from Ecuador are tied to a hepatitis A outbreak in the United States, with 30 people hospitalized. Health officials are urging consumers to avoid the product as the investigation continues. The warning has raised concerns about import screening and food safety oversight of shellfish reaching American markets.