Artisanal fishing is a vital economic activity for thousands of families from coastal edges, who, along with other small farmers, share the challenge of improving their living conditions, with techniques and strategies to ensure the sustainable use and exploitation of marine resources. Thus, fishermen and other members of the communities they belong seek joint income generation to improve their quality of life, with the implementation of practices to ensure the conservation of the resources that make it possible.
On the Pacific Coast of Chocó department (Colombia), there is evidence of concrete, effective and appropriate solutions that are the result of empowerment and key role participation of artisanal fishermen families and organizations. Gestated by local actors, for more than a decade its protagonists have been leading various actions for planning and sustainable use of marine coastal resources. The place – a Natural Sanctuary where whales, turtles and migratory birds find a shelter for reproducing – has been the scene of a community-based process of appropriation seeking to protect natural resources, as well as to consolidate responsible artisanal fishing as a profitable income generating alternative and a real engine of territorial development.
This Learning Territory allows to experience and learn directly from these initiatives and their protagonists, responding not only to the interest it represents to the Pacific coast of Colombia, but also for other latitudes where artisanal fishery and sustainable use and manage of coastal marine resources practices may be part of real alternatives for improving the quality of life of the population.
Learning Territory implemented 4 complete training sessions
83 people from Colombia, Panama and Ecuador have been trained in this Learning Territory
17 Local Champions have strengthened their capabilities and participated as trainers on implemented Learning Territories
58,000 USD income from services providing to the Learning Territories program
Innovations
What successful solutions have the Learning Territory’s partnerships implemented?
Seafood local microenterprise, which bets on the development of responsible artisan fisheries in order to protect the fishery resource. It has consolidated artisanal fishing as a sustainable income generating alternative, commercializing its products in different national markets, including a chain of high end Colombian restaurants that applies responsible fishing and consumption criteria, with whom they have established a business relationship for more than two years. FISHMARE establishes cooperative and participatory relations with artisanal fishermen, transferring benefits generated in the value chain, through different mechanisms.
The company has implemented traceability good practices that enable customers to access detailed information on the origin of the products, responsible fishing applied criteria, and how they were extracted and handled up to the moment they were sold.
- 16,000 kilos semestral sales, which translates into 12,000 USD
- They have 3 collection centers, equipped with refrigerating chain infrastructure, where traceability good practices are applied to their products
👉🏾 Click here to read the Case Study
(Only available in spanish)
Industry group that seeks to give legal support to the artisanal fishery subsector of the Chocó Pacific Coast zone, bringing together artisanal fishermen, processors and marketers legally formalized organizations. It promotes rescue, use and standardization of traditional fishing methods, the transformation of the coastal marine product as well as participatory monitoring processes.
- Conformed by 28 organizations, belonging to 5 municipalities.
👉🏾 Click here to read the Case Study
(Only available in spanish)
Social initiative that integrates different actors related to the artisanal fishery sector, in the department of Chocó. It aims to promote qualification initiatives for marine and coastal economic activities, mainly fishing, in different areas, benefiting residents of the north Pacific Chocó territory. It is noted for its contributions in the fields of management, planning, monitoring and research of artisanal fisheries.
- It led the creation of the Artisanal Fishery Exclusive Zone (ZEPA), the Fishing Management Exclusive Zone (ZEMP) and the Federation of Artisanal Fishery (FEDEPESCA)
👉🏾 Click here to read the Case Study
(Only available in spanish)
Joint planning and decision making instance on territorial management of human activities on natural resources use and management. It counts with the participation and recognition of the various public, private and community actors in the municipality of Nuquí.
- Leading role in the shaping of the Regional District of Integrated Management “Golfo de Tribugá- Cabo Corrientes” (DRMI)
👉🏾 Click here to read the Case Study
(Only available in spanish)
Resultados
- Community strategies for the management and protection of coastal marine resources
- Community production development plans for artisanal fisheries
- Rescue and dissemination of sustainable practices plans for artisanal fisheries
- Participatory Monitoring Plans for promoting sustainable artisanal fishery
- Product diversification and innovation strategies for artisanal fishery
- Technical and legal instruments for marine fishery planning and sustainable use of natural resources
- Political advocacy and community participation strategies and actions for protection of coastal marine resources and land use planning processes
- Creation and strengthening value chains strategies and plans for responsible artisanal fishery
- Environmental practices in ecotourism and ethnotourism activities, associated with the coastal marine resource
