Category: Locations

Darawa fishers: Moving away from destructive fishing to become leaders in coastal resource management

In the early 2000s, some fishers from Darawa island, located southwest of the Kaledupa sub-district of Wakatobi Regency in Indonesia, caught fish by destructive methods. The previously uninhabited island lacked plantations, and the fishers who moved there from the nearby...

/ Nov 17, 2021

Is HIV a hidden epidemic in Madagascar?

Preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV through a Health-Environment Partnerships approach I recently joined Blue Ventures as a Technical Advisor on Health-Environment matters, and I was amazed by the strides the team had made. For nearly two decades, Blue Ventures has...

/ Nov 11, 2021

Sustainable living from the sea through community-led seaweed farming.

In Madagascar, members of the community of Belo-sur-Mer – primarily women – have taken up the challenge of village aquaculture. I had no future before seaweed farming. My sons had left the village, and I could not support myself because...

/ Oct 27, 2021

Prioritizing inclusivity and community engagement in conservation and fisheries management in Belize! 

Dangriga Town – known as the ‘culture capital’ of Belize – is a vibrant coastal community nestled amongst the hills and valleys of southern Belize. Tales of its rich heritage can be seen, heard, and felt throughout the town’s streets...

/ Oct 22, 2021

An exchange visit to Pate Island, Lamu Archipelago – inspiring change in community-led fisheries and conservation

Munje to Pate – the start of learning There was hope and excitement as nine community members, seven men, and two ladies from Munje in southeast Kenya, boarded a shuttle bus for a nine-hour journey to Lamu. Our mission was...

/ Oct 13, 2021

Building capacity and strengthening networks – a participatory approach to invasive species management in Belize

The Pivot I can clearly remember waking up at the crack of dawn to the view of a breathtaking sunrise and the voices of eager volunteers who couldn’t wait to gear up. The savory aroma from the kitchen lingered like...

/ Sep 29, 2021

Connecting the dots – ‘Sasi’ and co-management in Maluku, Indonesia

  This post is the second of a 3-part series on the use of customary law (sasi) by communities from Maluku archipelago in Indonesia and how these practices have helped communities to rebuild their fisheries. Read part 1 here. Three...

/ Sep 23, 2021

Revitalising ‘sasi’ – relying on indigenous laws and traditions to protect the ocean in Maluku – Indonesia

This post is the first of a 3-part series on the use of customary law (sasi) by communities from Maluku archipelago in Indonesia and how these practices have helped communities to rebuild their fisheries. My first experience of Sasi September...

/ Sep 15, 2021

Adopting LMMAs – selfless actions for the security of future coastal generations

As we headed out on the bumpy road to Ambolobozobe in the northeast of Madagascar, there was a sense of anticipation. We were going to meet the coastal communities who are successfully managing multiple Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) as...

/ Sep 3, 2021

Suheri – Wild honey hunter, collector and fisher.

Preserving potential non-timber products from mangrove forests to meet daily needs Suheri, also known as Bang Heri, is a fisher from Batu Ampar Village in the Kubu Raya District of West Kalimantan, Indonesia. As well as fishing, Bang Heri is...

/ Aug 25, 2021

Relying on local knowledge to preserve key biodiversity sites in the Comoros

the power of data and local knowledge in local fisheries management An array of colours fill my eyes when I put my head underwater – blue, red, yellow and green is what I see as the fish move over beautiful...

/ Aug 19, 2021

Madam Mwanatumu: taking action and advocating for equality

Through action and change for equality The role of women in the fisheries sector cannot be further emphasized as they are key actors and players in forging connections between fishers and the market. While a fisherman’s role may mainly involve...

/ Aug 12, 2021

When the students became the teachers: a new locally led ecological monitoring team in southwest Madagascar

In June, the local ecological monitoring team from Velondriake travelled to Manjaboake to pass on its skills to its first set of students It was an early sunny morning in June as we packed our kit into the boat on...

/ Aug 9, 2021

Supporting community-led mangrove conservation in Indragiri Hilir

A new chapter for Blue Ventures’ mangrove conservation support in Indonesia

/ Jul 30, 2021

Five years in Timor-Leste

Birgit Hermann (country director) and Oldegar 'Ollie' Massinga (operations manager) who head up the Blue Ventures team in Timor-Leste, reflect on five years of working with communities to drive locally led marine conservation in the country

/ Jul 14, 2021