Pictured: Members of the World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP) stand together against industrial aquaculture at the 3rd Nyéléni Global Forum in 2025 in Sri Lanka. Photo courtesy of WFFP

From Uganda to Colombia, Indigenous, traditional, and small-scale fishing communities are challenging industrial development and defending their lands and waters — with women often leading the way. Beacons of Hope: Stories from the Land-Water Nexus, a multimedia series from the Global Alliance for the Future of Food, brings together stories, photos, and videos from Uganda, South Africa, Canada, Australia, India, and Colombia.

The series highlights women organizing for their livelihoods, human rights, and greater community control of land and water, while challenging industrial fishing, aquaculture, and agriculture, along with extractive development.

See how these women are defending their lands, waters, and livelihoods →