International environmental organization Oceana, dedicated to ocean defense and conservation, is currently the target of a disinformation and harassment campaign in Peru. This campaign has included attacks on social media, publications in print media, biased reports on online platforms, and digital harassment by anonymous accounts and figures linked to ultraconservative sectors. According to reports from the journalistic outlet El Foco, these actions allegedly appear to be promoted by the National Fisheries Society (SNP), the leading business association of the Peruvian fishing sector.
The harassment began after Oceana filed a public interest lawsuit before the judiciary, questioning the legality of industrial fishing within Protected Natural Areas (ANP), specifically in the Paracas and Nasca Ridge marine reserves. The organization argues that allowing large-scale extractive activities in these areas seriously threatens marine biodiversity and violates international conservation commitments. As a result of this campaign, Oceana has reported receiving death threats against some of its staff, allegedly from criminal networks. In an official statement, the organization called on the Peruvian fishing industry to redirect the debate toward a technical, scientifically-based discussion, distancing itself from personal attacks, disinformation, and defamation—particularly in a national context marked by increasing violence and insecurity.
For its part, the National Fisheries Society, through its executive director, issued a statement on its website reaffirming its stance on the lawsuit and public criticisms, though it did not directly address the allegations of harassment or threats.