Viewing: Small-scale fisheries

Challenges in austral hake supply chains Three years ago, when we approached the communities of Puerto Gala and Puerto Gaviota in Aysén, we began to see the logistical challenge of creating complementary routes for the austral hake supply chains. Simply getting there was a complex journey for our teams. How could we design systems to do the reverse, bringing fish from there to people's tables while maintaining legality, quality, and traceability? This was important because austral hake is vital for artisanal fishing in the…

Southern hake, a species deeply rooted in the culture of the seas of southern Chile, is a resource whose commercialization supports numerous coastal communities in the Aysén Region. However, the artisanal fishery of this species faces challenges in its management and administration, in addition to being in an overexploited state for years. Its supply chain often involves multiple intermediaries, making it difficult to trace the origin of the fish, ensure sustainable practices and provide a fair income for local fishers. Aware of this problem,…

At Future of Fish Chile, we believe that artisanal fishing can be a source of prosperity and conservation for the country’s coastal communities. Our commitment is to support artisanal fishers so their products not only reach the market but do so with the fair value they deserve, all within a sustainable framework. We aim to build a world where fishing communities are resilient guardians of marine ecosystems, capable of thriving while protecting the sea that sustains them. Through an interdisciplinary approach and the power…

Oikocredit worked with the international NGO Future of Fish to assess a potential social enterprise partner in Guatemala, Coastal Catch, regarding its fishing practices and controls. The outcome was positive, and Oikocredit has made a five-year loan to Coastal Catch. This article was originally published on Oikocredit's website. Along Guatemala's Pacific coast stretches a 254 km long expanse of dunes and sandy beaches, bordered by mangrove-lined lagoons. These ecosystems play a crucial role in providing vital environmental services such as serving as breeding grounds…

Updated July 11, 2024 Future of Fish and partners are excited to announce the Artisanal Fisher Development Fund (the Fund), a pilot loan guarantee fund to facilitate access to credit to support formalization, sustainable practices and financial inclusion amongst Peru´s artisanal fishing sector .  The Fund aims to facilitate access to credit for working capital loans through aggregated purchase programs of Coops for inputs such as gas, ice, oil, and other fishing essentials the savings of which will be passed on to fisher members…

Fisheries are a crucial part of our global food system, providing sustenance and livelihoods for millions of people worldwide. However, many fisheries face significant challenges, including overfishing, habitat degradation, and the need for effective management practices. In an effort to address these issues, Fisheries Improvement Projects (FIPs) have gained prominence as a mechanism for promoting sustainable fishing practices, with a social responsibility assessment tool recently added to the framework. Future of Fish’s recent report, "Advancing Finance for FIPs," sheds light on the financial aspects…

Peru, renowned for its coastal beauty and marine biodiversity, faces unique challenges within its informal economy, particularly in the fishing industry. The livelihoods of countless fishers are intricately tied to informal practices, presenting a set of issues that impact both individuals and the sustainability of marine resources. Peru is one of the leading fishing nations in the world, historically coming in second only to China in terms of tons of wild fish caught. It’s no surprise that the fishing industry is a vital component…

By Jenni Ahern, Program Director, Future of Fish Peru You may hear the terms "participatory development”, “co-design” or “co-create” a lot these days as Community and International Development theory continues to evolve. This theory evolves and adapts to human beings and community identified needs, where the most crucial piece of participatory community development is trust building. Trust in process and in people, are the two necessary ingredients for success. We know that healthy oceans and healthy communities go hand in hand. Future of Fish…

Healthy ocean ecosystems are the foundation of healthy coastal communities and functioning global food systems. But achieving sustainable fisheries does not begin with environmental actions. It begins with building a foundation for empowered small-scale fisheries that have resilient livelihoods and have the capacity to effectively manage their business and the ocean resources they depend upon. A recent Partnership Agreement between Future of Fish and Old Dart Foundation seeks to drive large-scale systems change to benefit coastal communities and ocean ecosystems. Together, we hope to…

(Artículo publicado originalmente en inglés) Los ecosistemas oceánicos sanos son la base de unas comunidades costeras sanas y de unos sistemas alimentarios mundiales que funcionen. Pero la pesca sostenible no empieza con medidas medioambientales. Empieza por sentar las bases de una pesca a pequeña escala con medios de subsistencia resistentes y con capacidad para gestionar eficazmente sus actividades y los recursos oceánicos de los que dependen. Un reciente acuerdo de asociación entre Future of Fish y la Old Dart Foundation pretende impulsar un cambio…