Ecuador

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.

The US has carried out strikes on Ecuadorian fishing boats, prompting humanitarian concerns from critics and observers. The Trump administration has indicated it will not change course despite the backlash. The strikes are drawing scrutiny over their legality and the risk to civilian fishermen, with the administration defending its actions so far.

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.

Fishing activity in Manta, Ecuador, is showing signs of slowing down, according to the Ecuadorian press. Merchants report fewer products available at retail outlets, while industry leaders say part of the fishing fleet has stopped setting out to sea. The reports raise concern about the local fishing economy and its impact on vendors and workers in the port city.