International Pole & Line Foundation (IPNLF)

eDhumashi - Empowering Women in the Maldives to Turn 🐟 Into 💰 IPNLF-Maldives aims to give women fisher folk in the Maldives autonomy over their small-scale businesses with eDhumashi 📲 . In the Maldives, women “turn the fish into money.” However, women fisherfolk often struggle with delayed and unfair payment conditions, unreliable buyers and middlemen, and poor access to financial information, tools, and training. IPNLF-Maldives developed an innovative solution to connect women fisherfolk in the Maldives to an exclusive digital market platform. This platform, called eDhumashi, allows them to account for their production and sales data, receive payments directly without middlemen, conduct online financial transactions, build credit histories, and access financial tools.  In the upcoming weeks, we’ll dive into innovation, tech AND social positive impact, local products, and the project’s activities. Most importantly, we'll discuss what this means for the local island communities in the Maldives and how it directly contributes to women’s livelihoods. Stay tuna’d! We’d like to thank UNDP OIC for the support and incubation 🙏🏾 Out of 300 proposals received, two IPNLF projects were selected as innovations to promote sustainable fisheries & the Blue Economy, and eDhumashi is one of them. #womenempowerment #undp #ipnlfmaldives #ipnlf #girlboss #femaletrepreneur #WomenOwnedBusiness #BuyLocal #ipnlf #ipnlfmaldives #ouroceansourfuture #undp #oceaninnovators

🌟 IPNLF Think Tank 2024: A Global Collaboration for Small-Scale Fisheries 🌟 We brought together over 40 participants from 14 countries, including experts, international buyers, and retailers like Woolworths, Seafood Souq, ICV Africa, Anova Seafood, and Tri Marine. Indonesian processors and exporters such as NUSATUNA, PT Harta Samudra, PT SMS, and PT Nutrindo Fresfood Internasional joined forces with technical and financial experts from South Africa, Maldives, Canada, Portugal, Australia, and Indonesia. Craig Turley, IPNLF Fisheries Director, said it best: “While many organisations are developing groundbreaking technologies in isolation, true innovation comes from collaboration. This collective effort has made the vision of a technology-rich, environmentally sustainable small-scale fishery a reality.” This invitation-only event fostered productive dialogue among technology providers, fisheries stakeholders, private sector representatives, donors, and impact investors. Importantly, small-scale fishers were at the heart of these discussions, ensuring their voices and needs were central to the solutions. You can learn more in our press release:

Road to Rome: The SSF Summit and COFI 36 The SSF Summit has just kicked off 🙌. IPNLF is there for 2 days to engage with governments and other small-scale fisheries advocates in a non-technical forum to address governance and development challenges in small-scale fisheries while proposing and sharing solutions to foster and strengthen the implementation of the SSF Guidelines. This event is designed to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines) to advance priority actions for sustainable small-scale fisheries and to assess the current status of the SSF Guidelines implementation at the national, regional and global level to inform future actions. Participants will focus on Chapter 5 and Chapter 6 of the SSF Guidelines, per consultation with small-scale fishers, their organizations and/or representatives, and relevant stakeholders during the design phase of this event. COFI 36 Straight after the SSF Summit, Martin Purves will attend COFI 36. Together with the co-signees of our Joint NGO Statement on Equity in Market Access for Small-Scale Fisheries, we’re pushing for efforts to promote equitable participation of small-scale fisheries in global markets to achieve target 14b of the Sustainable Development Goals: “provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets”. We take meetings, engage in discussions, form coalitions where possible. We’re allocated a speaking slot in the Speaker’s Corner (Thursday 11 July) with the NGOs Too Big to Ignore and Flora Fauna International, in partnership with the Pakistan Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Somalia Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy. Our team of co-sponsors have also submitted an application for a Side Event on the challenges of market access faced by Small-Scale Fisheries. Are you in Rome? Martin would love to connect! Feel free to send Martin Purves a direct message.

🌊 IPNLF Think Tank 2024: Pioneering the Future of Fishing Vessels 🌊 Why focus on "The Fishing Vessels of the Future"? At the heart of the IPNLF Think Tank's mission is empowering fishers as entrepreneurs and ocean stewards. By blending cutting-edge technology with traditional methods, we aim to ensure sustainable seafood production within our planet's ecological limits. Vessel design is crucial for achieving this. It enhances operational efficiency, adapts to climate change, and meets international market demands. Here’s how: 🔹 Data Capture: Integrating electronic catch documentation (eCDT) and electronic monitoring simplifies compliance and ensures traceability, boosting market access for small-scale fisheries.  🔹 Safety-at-Sea: Improved safety measures and better crew living and working conditions.  🔹 Efficiency: Advanced fish-finding technology and innovative hull designs reduce carbon emissions.  🔹 Cold Chain Management: Onboard cold chains maintain fish quality, meet food safety and traceability requirements, reduce post-harvest loss, increase livelihoods, and focus on quality over quantity. Imagine the impact on local coastal communities. This innovation can level the playing field and uplift those living in poverty — together, we can transform small-scale fisheries for a sustainable future. 🌍💙 #sustainability #innovation #fisheries #IPNLF #technology #oceanstewards #smallscalefisheries  #futureoffishing #ipnlfthinktank #vesselsofthefuture #protectouroceans #fishforthefuture #fisheriesmanagement

A Leap Towards Futuristic, Sustainable Fisheries 🎣🙌 In May 2024, IPNLF launched a Think Tank in Bali, Indonesia, convening a diverse panel of experts worldwide to redesign fishing vessels to help solve some of the challenges faced by small-scale fisheries globally 🌏. The ambitious goal is to positively change small-scale fisheries by leveraging technology ➡️ We aim to make these fisheries safer and increase operational efficiency while remaining steadfast in responsible fishing practices by empowering fishers as entrepreneurs and ocean stewards.  While numerous organisations are pioneering groundbreaking technologies in isolation, the true innovation lies in uniting these entities to collaborate and expedite the best solutions. The IPNLF Think Tank in Bali played a pivotal role in catalysing collective efforts that brought the vision of a technology-rich, environmentally sustainable small-scale fishery into a tangible reality. A key focus during the two-day event was eventually redesigning small-scale fishing vessels to improve operational efficiency, adapt to climate change, and comply with international market demands. The primary goal is to identify and implement cost-effective solutions that will future-proof small-scale fisheries, so we looked at, for example, enhancing operational efficiency, hull design, carbon emission reduction, handling and cold chain management to secure the highest level of quality, trace, safety-at-sea, and this all in the light of respecting the cultural heritage and tradition. The IPNLF Think Tank in Bali initiated this community of like-minded individuals who are skilled and willing to contribute to achieving its goal. We'd like to THANK all participants for their invaluable contributions. The high level of expertise, engagement, and dedication was evident in creating our five concept vessels of the future. We are incredibly proud of what we've accomplished together 💙. #ipnlfthinktank #ipnlf #vesselsofthefuture #smallscalefisheries #fishing #responsiblefishing #tunafishing #fishforthefuture #ouroceanourfuture

Say hello to Jamie 👋 IPNLF has strengthened our Indonesian team and welcomes Jamie Briscoe in her new role as Indonesia Programme Lead 🙌! Based in Bali, Jamie leads the IPNLF Indonesia team and promotes Indonesian one-by-one tuna fisheries by ensuring the development, delivery, and accurate reporting of all activities while seeking new opportunities and collaborations with local stakeholders, such as the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), local partner NGOs, project partners, the international donor community, and IPNLF members. Jamie joins IPNLF after her tenure at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. She brings over five years of experience from engagements across non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and philanthropic institutions dedicated to conservation and stewardship. She contributed to the Indonesia Ocean Initiative and supported partners in implementing impactful community-led ocean governance projects there.  Happy to have you on the team, Jamie!

Why does fish quality matter?  Prioritising quality over quantity and reducing post-harvest losses isn’t just about the tuna; It’s about the ocean, food security, poverty alleviation, and the livelihoods of those in the fishing industry - often in some of the world’s most remote areas. It also means you’ll get the best and most delicious tuna in your salad, tuna melt, steak, poké bowl, sushi and ALL beautiful tuna products you love 💙. 🗣️“Always quality over quantity” — direct quote Ryan Nienaber @greenfishsa 📸Photos from some of our quality improvement projects in Oman, Tanzania, and recently Ambon, Indonesia #instagood  #tuna  #spicytuna  #responsiblebusinesspractices  #sustainablefisheries  #choosesustainablefish  #planbsustainablefisheries  #planbsustainablefishiers

In the global market, high-quality tuna for sushi and sashimi is often bought from longline rather than small-scale fisheries using low-impact techniques like handline. However, our project in Oman has taken a unique approach to this and showed that this doesn’t necessarily have to be the case 🙌 🎣! Within 10 days in Oman, the team provided technical training in fish handling and cold storage. Our project successfully demonstrated that, with the right techniques, Omani handline tuna could become ‘Grade-A’ quality and post-harvest losses could be eliminated.  The quality of tuna is determined within the first 3 to 5 minutes after capture. Proper handling and rapid cooling are essential for preserving a high-quality, safe, and hygienic product, thereby maximizing the potential value of the fishery. To achieve the highest grade 1 (A) tuna, IPNLF recommends a 7-step at-sea handling process, including the use of appropriate fishing techniques and equipment. Additionally, upon landing, the key factors for maintaining quality and preventing deterioration are maintaining the cold chain and proper fish handling. Thanks to Seafood Souq, one-by-one fishing expert Ryan Nienaber (IPNLF member Greenfish SA), and Craig Turley (IPNLF Fisheries Director) using their combined expertise, Omani tuna has seen an increase in product quality, reduced waste, and reduced environmental impact. It supports better economics for the local fishers, and with Seafood Souq providing a direct route to global buyers via its digitised seafood marketplace, the region is expanding its horizons beyond the shores of the Omani market. #onebyonetuna #premiumquality #ipnlf #sustainablefishing #fisheriesmanagement #fishforthefuture #everydropintheoceancounts #fisheryimprovement

Quality Improvement Projects IPNLF 🎣🙌 As you know, IPNLF plays a unique role in sustainable fishing and is dedicated to working with, promoting, and supporting one-by-one tuna fisheries 💙. A key part of our work is helping these fisheries produce high-quality tuna. This week, we’ll dive into our quality improvement activities worldwide with project updates, throwbacks, and perhaps another fisher lingo (or two ;)). Most importantly, what it means for the fishing communities and how it directly contributes to fishers’ livelihoods. Stay tuna’d! #fishing  #fishinglife  #tuna #onebyone #responsiblefishing #premiumquality #sustainablefishing #2030agenda #ipnlf #oceanconservation

“We ‘need to be able to withstand this urge that leads humans to take more and more from the oceans than it can give or replace.”  When do we say “enough” is really enough? Our oceans are vital to our planet and the people of the Azores are deeply connected to it. The ocean is their greatest resource making it essential for the livelihoods of many. The fishers of the different islands have noticed, over the years, how industrial fleets have become more common. These industrial purse seine fleets are using nets 2,000m long and 200m deep. This is enough to wipe out entire tuna schools in minutes. They are fishing across the Atlantic, targeting the same migratory tuna stocks, thus causing the overfishing of these important species.  Luis Rodriguez (Regional Director of Azores Fisheries 2016-2020 ) has seen the impact of industrial fishing on the Azores’ small-scale fishers, and warns, that we "need to be able to withstand this urge that leads humans to take more and more from the oceans than it can give or replace. If we don’t, we will have nothing left". Sustainable fishing is possible but it goes against our current - outdated - systems. Watch the video to find out what fishers from the Azores have to say. We need to transform our world and food production systems to one where people, economies, and nature can thrive together. Help us to achieve this by supporting one-by-one fisheries that respect the ocean while safeguarding the livelihoods of its coastal communities. #oceanconservation #ocean #marineconservation #oceanlife #marinelife #responsiblefishing  #ipnlf #onebyone #tunatales #conservation #oceanlover #saveouroceans #azores #oceanlove #climatechange #sustainability #sealife