Successful Conclusion of the UNDP Ocean Innovation Challenge Project
As part of Cohort 2 of the Ocean Innovation Challenge program, funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Norad, and Sida, SmartFish AC led an ambitious project titled “Value Rescue in Small-Scale Fisheries in Mexico.” This two-year initiative culminated in June 2024. In the culmination SmartFish and the fisher cooperatives meeting celebrated alongside key partners, including the Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans (CEDO), the Oaxaca Conservation Fund (FOCN), HealthyFish, the Mexican Confederation of Fishing and Aquaculture Cooperatives, Plenumsoft Marina, and Iluméxico.
During the project, SmartFish AC successfully transferred its Value Rescue Model (VRM) to three additional organizations, expanding the model’s application from 6 to 15 fishing entities. The results were remarkable: the annual volume of sustainable seafood nearly tripled, rising from 24.5 tons to 71.3 tons, generating 11.7 million pesos in revenue. Furthermore, 771 individuals received training in fishing optimization and business development. Five new processing plants were operationalized, creating 52 jobs, of which 75% were filled by women.
The Value Rescue Model has proven to be an effective solution for improving both sustainability and profitability in small-scale fisheries in Mexico, paving the way for replicating this approach in other global contexts. Today, SmartFish AC is actively working to scale and disseminate the model, contributing to a more sustainable future for fisheries worldwide.
