From a young age, Cipriana learned the art of fishing from his family. Today, he continues at sea with pride and environmental commitment.

The testimony of Cipriana Lara León was shared on Voices from the Seaa podcast produced by Loudspeaker Radio in collaboration with NOS Sustainable Northwest, that seeks to make visible the practices of sustainable fishing and the close relationship between the coastal communities and marine ecosystems of the Gulf of California.

Cipriana is one of the few women fisherwomen in La Palma Solain the San José Islandin Baja California Sur. Since he was six years old, when he caught his first eight-kilo cabrilla, he knew that fishing was more than a family tradition, it was his way of life.

"I am from the Lara family of La Palma Sola, on the island of San Jose. My parents are fishermen, my grandparents, my uncles, my uncles and my whole family are fishermen. That's where I learned to fish. I have loved fishing since I was a little girl. I was 6 years old when I caught an 8-kilo cabrilla in Palma Sola," she said.

Today, as a mother of four children and a resident of St. EvaristusCipriana continues to fish alongside her father. For her, being a fisherwoman is a choice that honors her origin and strengthens her community.

"Here fishing is everything, because this is where families support themselves. It is the only job, it is the number one activity," he said.

Women in fishing, a valuable presence, but still scarce

In communities such as San Evaristo and La Palma Sola, women's presence at sea has been constant but not very visible. Cipriana is one of only four women who regularly go fishing.

"I go out (fishing) with my father and the other three go out with their husbands. We do everything: pull the anchor, wash the panga, take the gills out of the fish, and the heaviest part is done by the man," she said.

Although historically fishing has been seen as a male activity, Cipriana's experience shows that women have been present, active and committed to this work, transmitting knowledge from generation to generation.

"I had my children and I am still here, still a fisherwoman with my father. I have four children, the youngest is studying, the other two men are fishermen and a woman who works and is in Veracruz," she said.

Sustainable fishing, the bet for the future

Aware of the changes in the climate and the decline of marine species, Cipriana tells us that in her community they monitor sea turtles, clean bays and provide temporary jobs during fishing closures.

"Before they used to catch fish on the shore, now they don't, now they have to fight harder, there are no fish, the seasons come and they don't. Sometimes it can also be because of currents, for example, El Niño is sometimes good, La Niña is bad. Sometimes it can also be due to the currents, for example, El Niño is sometimes good, La Niña is bad. Now it has changed to El Niño, it looks like it is going to be a good year," he said.

His greatest wish is that the new generations have the same opportunities to make a living from fishing, but he acknowledged that more motivation is needed for young people and more support from the State Government and Conapesca.

Cipriana Lara León represents a living example of the invaluable contribution of women in a predominantly male activity. Her dedication and effort in the sustainable fishing stand out as a call to make visible and recognize the role of women in this field.