Category: Locations

2023: A Year of Action in West Africa

This year was the first full year of action for Blue Ventures in West Africa, putting in place our activities plan after extensive scoping and discussions with potential partners. What an exciting year it has been: we formed key partnerships,...

/ Dec 14, 2023

Learning from successful MPAs in Senegal to pave the way for Congo’s first marine protected area

The writers of this blog are part of Renatura Congo, an NGO dedicated to promoting sustainable development through biodiversity conservation. This exchange journey was made possible through co-funding by Rainforest Trust and Blue Ventures, aligning with Renatura Congo’s strategic plan...

/ Dec 14, 2023

Embarking on a sustainable shrimp journey in Indragiri Hilir, Indonesia

Inayah joined Blue Ventures Indonesia as a Fisheries and Data Technician in June 2023. Her role involves supporting local partners with data collection, analysis, and reporting. In her first blog, she talks about how the first shrimp stock assessment carried...

/ Nov 21, 2023

Small-scale fishers should be in the driving seat for blue carbon projects in the future. Here’s why.

Jemima Gomes joined Blue Ventures in 2016 as the Diving Assistant during Blue Ventures Expedition programme in Timor-Leste. Jemima recently participated in a Seagrass Ecosystem Services regional workshop in Indonesia. Here, she shares her personal experience of the Blue Carbon...

/ Oct 3, 2023

Joan’s trip from Kwale to Kilwa: witnessing the benefits of octopus fishery closures and gender diversity

Joan Otengo joined Blue Ventures in March 2023 as the Partner Support Coordinator for Kenya. Joan recently participated in a learning visit to Kilwa, Tanzania with the beach management unit (BMU) members from Kwale, Kenya. Here, she shares her personal...

/ Sep 26, 2023
Learning exchanges inspire mangrove forest conservation in Indonesia

Learning exchanges inspire mangrove forest conservation in Indonesia

Yoga Putra joined Blue Ventures in August 2023 as the Global Senior Communications Officer for Asia-Pacific. Yoga recently participated in a learning visit to Surabaya, East Java in Indonesia, with community representatives from villages in Indragiri Hilir, Riau. Here, he...

/ Sep 14, 2023
Women pilot savings and loan scheme in Timor-Leste to introduce alternative livelihoods in communities

Women pilot savings and loan scheme in Timor-Leste to introduce alternative livelihoods in communities

Natercia Verdial joined Blue Ventures in March 2022 as a Fisheries and Livelihoods Senior Manager in Timor-Leste. Natercia uses her expertise to support women to identify and introduce alternative livelihoods in their communities. Here she talks about her recent work...

/ Aug 23, 2023

Empowering Ende: monitoring coral reefs for thriving fisheries

How local expertise and data-driven conservation are reviving octopus fisheries in Ende, Indonesia Arya Dhani joined Blue Ventures in November 2022 as a Fisheries and Data Technician in Indonesia. Arya uses his fisheries management expertise to provide technical support to...

/ Aug 9, 2023

Our first-ever peer-to-peer learning exchange on blue carbon ecosystems in Madagascar

Holly Elgar joined Blue Ventures in 2022 as a Senior Scoping Officer for blue carbon ecosystems. Holly uses her expertise to identify potential sites to expand our community-led mangrove management projects around the world. Here she talks about her recent...

/ Jul 19, 2023

Traditional fishers trained as certified divers

The Barren Isles is an archipelago of nine islands in the Mozambique Channel off of Madagascar’s west coast. Its ecosystem is extraordinarily diverse, comprising vast coral reefs, offshore islands, seamounts, extensive mangrove forests, estuarine marshes, and coastal dunes backed by...

/ Jun 16, 2023

What is the Fisheries Transparency Initiative and why is it so important?

In Madagascar, public authorities, fishers, and civil society organisations are working towards improving fisheries transparency and governance. Together, they want to ensure sustainable and fair management of stocks, and enhance the value of a sector that represents between five and...

/ May 24, 2023

Progress Made on Fisheries Transparency in Madagascar

In Madagascar, public authorities, fishers, and civil society organisations are working towards improving fisheries transparency and governance. Together, they want to ensure sustainable and fair management of stocks, and enhance the value of a sector that represents between five and...

/ May 17, 2023

Participatory Video Inspires Community-Led Seagrass Conservation in Timor-Leste

Despite boasting some of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems in the world, small-scale fishers in Timor-Leste are increasingly concerned about declining daily catches. Participatory video is a powerful community engagement and communications tool that can help uncover hidden challenges and...

/ May 15, 2023

Comoros to Kenya: A trip to learn from fellow fishers in Kenya

The sea around Comoros has been the source of livelihood for Bahati Anli, and many like her in Comoros. She comes from a fishing community and is part of Maecha Bora, an all-women fishers association that leads conservation efforts. When...

/ Mar 24, 2023

Meet the communities using data to transform fisheries management

Blue Ventures and partner COMRED held the first community data feedback meeting with people from Kwale County in Kenya to validate fisheries catch and landing data collected from fisheries over three months. The activity was an eye-opener on how communities...

/ Mar 14, 2023