Implementing improvements in fisheries and aquaculture production to protect the ocean, conserve marine life and increase food and livelihood security.
The ocean is the biggest food system on our planet, by area. It not only feeds billions but also provides livelihoods for hundreds of millions of people. Conservation International collaborates with regional and local stakeholders to protect marine life and improve the well-being of ocean-dependent communities. By promoting responsible and ethical fishing and aquaculture practices through partnerships and investments, we ensure a more sustainable journey from sea to table.
The facts
Three out of seven people depend on the ocean as their primary source of protein1.
The ocean contributes more than US$ 2.5 trillion per year toward the global economy2.
Every year, one in five fish is caught illegally, disrupting economic opportunities for fishing communities and reducing food security3.
Worldwide, 600 million livelihoods depend at least partially on fisheries and aquaculture4. Small-scale fisheries employ 90% of all workers in the sector5.
Only 40% of global seafood production is currently certified as sustainable or assessed for sustainability status6.
What we do
Conservation International is dedicated to ensuring food security and livelihoods throughout the entire seafood supply chain. We support resilient coastal community fisheries, sustainable tuna and responsible aquaculture. We actively partner with the private sector, lead global initiatives and advocate for policy reforms to drive greater investment in sustainability and social responsibility. Our focus is to protect the human rights of fishers and fish workers worldwide, ensuring their well-being through responsible practices.
Today, we work in more than 20 countries spanning South and Central America, the Caribbean, Pacific Islands, Africa and Southeast Asia. Our projects cover a vast expanse of over 5 million square kilometers (1.9 million square miles) of ocean habitat and are helping to improve food security and livelihoods for tens of thousands of people.
Coastal Community Fisheries
Conservation International is transforming small-scale fisheries through its Community Fishery Improvement Project model. This approach actively engages and uplifts local fishing communities to improve social, economic and environmental practices in their business operations. By moving away from the traditional top-down approach, we ensure that these fisheries improvements are tailored to each community’s specific needs, fostering local leadership and directly contributing to the well-being of communities.
Sustainable Tuna
Conservation International is working to make tuna fisheries more sustainable through Jurisdictional Initiatives, which leverage policy and market-based incentives while using a human rights-based approach to fisheries governance. We bring together governments, business leaders, technical experts, and Indigenous communities to align incentives and identify and implement environmental, social, and economic improvements in tuna fisheries.
Aquaculture
Conservation International partners with governments, producers, supply chain companies, financial institutions and leading scientists to develop and scale new models for aquaculture production that minimize harmful environmental impacts, support improved food security and economic development, and provide important biodiversity and climate adaptation benefits.
Addressing Harmful Fishing
Global fisheries employ millions of people, on tens of thousands of vessels around the world, extracting millions of tons of fish from our ocean every year. In this globalized, highly complex sector, human rights, decent work, biodiversity and sustainable economies are at risk in the absence of effective, durable management and governance. Beyond what happens at sea, the cascading impacts of harmful fishing are felt across ecosystems, communities and small-scale fisheries around the world. Conservation International works alongside government, industry, civil society and university partners to address harmful fishing practices to protect food security and secure decent livelihoods for those who depend on our ocean, while conserving wild marine spaces for generations to come.
Human Rights in Fisheries
Conservation International is committed to protecting the human rights of fishworkers and ocean-dependent communities around the world. We do this by creating new tools to assess and address human rights risks, using scientific evidence to promote fair economies and advocating for global policies that prioritize justice. Using a human rights-based approach, we focus on ensuring the well-being of fishery-dependent communities, addressing illegal fishing and rights abuses, and promoting transparency in these critical areas.
Ocean Technology and Innovation
Conditions onboard distant water fishing (DWF) vessels can be very dangerous and are characterized by isolation and long periods of time at sea — sometimes for many months and even years. Exploitative labor conditions are exacerbated by the lack of connectivity (Wi-Fi), as crew members are unable to contact friends, family, or their representative organizations to report grievances. A lack of transparency and digital infrastructure can also enable illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing practices. Two technologies have emerged that can alleviate some of these risks: satellite Wi-Fi, which can enable connectivity for crews at sea, and electronic monitoring systems which equip fishing vessels with cameras, computers and GPS to continuously record fishing activity on-the-water and ensure sustainable management. Pairing Wi-Fi with electronic monitoring means that we can review live camera data from the vessels and review labor indicators — such as work hours, access to safety equipment, as well as accidents, injuries or abuses that may occur. This information can be used to better protect crew and reduce industry risk.
Seafood Markets and Equity
There is growing consensus that the long-standing inequities faced by fishers have not been adequately addressed by sustainable seafood approaches. Conservation International is leading efforts to identify the distribution of costs and benefits of participating in voluntary sustainability standards for small-scale fisheries. Our work uses participatory research methods to elevate the voices of fishers, fish workers and those closest to production to develop immediate actions, guidance and longer-term recommendations to address inequities and enhance resilience in seafood supply chains.
How we do it
Our conservation initiatives are built on four interrelated approaches that work together to maximize our conservation impact and ensure the long-term effectiveness of our efforts:
We are helping fishers, aquaculture operators and communities adopt sustainable and equitable practices. By doing so, we aim to enhance food security and promote responsible engagement in fisheries, aquaculture and the expanding blue economy. Drawing upon our experience in the field and established relationships in communities, our initiatives are designed to engage and prioritize the voices of fish workers and communities, and to respect Indigenous and local people’s rights to harvest and their vision for marine management.
We work with market partners to drive awareness, commitments, and capacity to engage in comprehensive environmental and human rights due diligence models centering the participation and leadership of ocean-dependent people and communities.
Effective management systems and public policies allow communities and markets to function efficiently. We support equity and justice-centered policy reforms across all scales that incentivize sustainable production practices, promote decent work and the well-being of Indigenous and local communities. We also protect the critical ecosystems that sustain economic activities. This work is grounded in a strong foundation of science, knowledge and collaboration.
The most durable and effective fisheries and aquaculture reforms are based on evidence. We mobilize science, conduct research, leverage technology and use local and Indigenous knowledge to support human rights and equitable, sustainable ocean economies, elevate the voices of fish workers and inform marine protected area designation and management.
Our work in practice
In Indonesia and Ecuador, Conservation International and in-country partners Konservasi Indonesia and Conservation International-Ecuador are implementing climate smart pilot projects that supports shrimp production by providing loans and technical assistance to shrimp farmers while restoring mangroves in critical areas. Globally, this approach could restore up to 3.3 million hectares of mangrove forests, while increasing responsible shrimp production.
Through decades of work in close collaboration with coastal fishing communities, Conservation International has developed a framework to increase sustainable small-scale seafood production. Through our Community Fishery Improvement Projects, we are driving environmental, social and economic improvements in small-scale fisheries across 15 countries. Our success is centered on building a trustworthy, transparent production chain and we work to ensure adequate incentives are available to fishing communities towards that aim. Through Conservation International’s EcoGourmet program, we connect small-scale fishers directly to local and domestic buyers to ensure equitable market access for sustainably harvested fish, with transparent sourcing and fair prices.
Conservation International is partnering with 14 Pacific Island countries and regional agencies to jointly create a comprehensive plan for enhancing the climate resilience of the region’s tuna fisheries. With a large-scale funding proposal officially endorsed by the Green Climate Fund, this initiative will result in better management of approximately 40 million square kilometers (15 million square miles) of ocean area and directly support food security and livelihoods for over four million local people.
In Peru, the jumbo flying squid fishery is a crucial resource for artisanal fishing communities and the national economy, but the sustainability of the squid stock is jeopardized by the activity of foreign, large-scale industrial vessels that operate on the high seas just outside of Peru’s waters. Human rights and labor abuses have also been reported within the foreign fleet. To address these challenges, Conservation International is taking a network approach to building the capacity of Peruvian authorities and civil society to more effectively engage in regional governance spaces.
News about fisheries and aquaculture
Resources
- 2020-2022 Global Fisheries & Aquaculture Impact Report (PDF)
- A jurisdictional approach to responsible shrimp aquaculture (PDF)
- Developing Jurisdictional Initiatives for Seafood Sector (PDF)
- Women at the Heart of Coastal Community Fisheries (PDF)
- Conservation International’s approach to working with Coastal Community Fisheries (PDF)
- Community Fishery Improvement Projects (PDF)
- Guidance for Seafood Buyers (PDF)
- Policy Brief: Addressing harm in distant water fishing in Liberia (PDF)
- UN FAO The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024 (SOFIA 2024)
- UNCTAD Advancing the Potential of Sustainable Ocean-based Economies: Trade Trends, Market Drivers and Market Access (2021)
- Agnew, David J., et al. [https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0004570]
- UN FAO State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022
- UN FAO Illuminating Hidden Harvests: The contributions of small-scale fisheries to sustainable development (2023)
- https://certificationandratings.org/data-tool-2022/