Blue Ventures

Context

BV exists to address two inextricably linked global challenges: marine degradation and the threat in livelihoods for the 100 million who depend on small-scale fisheries across the world.

Coastal ecosystems account for ~50% of the total carbon sequestered in ocean sediments and sequester carbon at a much faster rate than planet’s forests. Unsustainable fishing practices destroy ecosystems and fish populations’ habitat and prevent their replenishment, leading to declining stocks. 90% of the world’s marine fish stocks are now fully exploited, overexploited or depleted due to unsustainable fishing techniques.

Small-scale fisheries employ more than 90% of the world’s capture and provide over 100 million people in the developing world with a source of food security and livelihoods. Increase in fishing activity, often employing more destructive methods, puts further pressure on the declining fishing stocks, creating a vicious cycle. Local communities most affected by this are uncoordinated, rather small and dispersed across coasts; their voice is limited in the national and global discourse.

Solution

BV helps local coastal communities manage their own resources by creating community groups and designating their marine resources as Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs). BV supports these community groups by:

• Training on how to effectively run temporary closures in fishing areas that result in increases in fish size, volume, and weight over a short period
• Training on new income-generating activities (e.g., aquaculture) to relieve pressure on fishing stocks
• Introducing community-run preventive measures (e.g., mangrove protection) to arrest the destruction of the marine environment
• Educating on the benefits of non-destructive fishing on habitats and fish yields
• Increasing the community’s environmental stewardship and sense of ownership

Impact depth

Over 100 million people in the developing world depending on small-scale fisheries for sustenance could benefit from BV’s work in preventing further marine degradation and rehabilitating marine life. BV contributes to:

• Coordinated usage and rehabilitation of fisheries and marine life: BV enables local groups in fishing communities to manage the resources through interventions such as temporary fishery closures and mangrove protection projects and increase their environmental stewardship
• Protected livelihoods of local fisher communities that rely on marine life: BV helps local communities increase their income from bigger catch as a result of temporary closures, and supports them in establishing alternative livelihoods such as aquaculture and Blue Carbon