NATURAL CAPITAL SOLUTIONS
Since 1984, the first eight miles along Ecuador’s Manabí and Santa Elena provinces have been designated as an exclusive zone for artisanal fishing seeking to protect the coastal ecosystems. Industrial fishing vessels continue to operate illegally in the area, creating conflict and putting these vital ecosystems at risk.
This program aims to strengthen inter- institutional coordination to improve control and surveillance of illegal fishing, deploy vessel-tracking technology, expand on-site inspections and support artisanal fishers with safer, more innovative practices.
The expected outcomes are healthier coastal ecosystems and improved ecosystem services, higher productivity of commercial fish species, greater legal compliance by fishers, and improved livelihoods of through safer, more innovative fishing practices.
The program’s main objective is to help protect the first eight miles of coastal waters within the provinces of Manabí and Santa Elena by addressing illegal industrial fishing through stronger coordination with authorities, vessel-tracking technology, and improving the physical presence through on-site inspections.
Additionally, the program aims to support artisanal fishermen by improving their fishing gear, promoting sustainable use of fishing resources and improving market access of their products.
WildAid inspires change and empowers the world to protect wildlife and vital habitats from critical threats, generating impact at scale in two distinct ways:
1) by creating innovative communications campaigns that inspire millions of people in China, Southeast Asia, Africa, the US, and Ecuador to protect endangered wildlife and reduce climate impacts, and
2) by strengthening effective ocean governance and enforcement in priority marine areas, including marine protected areas, coastal fisheries, coral reefs, and blue carbon habitats with government, NGO, and community partners in 16 countries around the world, including Ecuador.