Ideas in collaboration with Gianluigi Negroni on Blue Economy

1. Redistributive Fishery and Aquaculture Enterprises

   A model for inclusive growth and social equity

   A redistributive enterprise in the fishery and aquaculture sector is a privately run business that operates for profit-like any other market oriented enterprise-but with a unique social commitment: to allocate a portion of its net profits as a basic income or direct support to vulnerable groups in exchange of some activities in the fishery/aquaculture value chains.

   This support could be carefully delivered in monthly installments and may include financial aid, but also extends to nutritional assistance (e.g. regular distribution of fish products), psychosocial support, and access to healthcare or medicines, especially in the case of communities in extreme hardship. This community must live in the geographical proximity of the fishery acquaculture value chain and work continuously in the sector.

   Some examples: nomadic fishermen families in Mali inland delta, mentally sick fishermen in Berbera (Somaliland), group of fish thieves in aquaculture ponds, walking octopus fishermen in Mafia island Tanzania.

   The success of this model relies on the fishery/aquaculture’s ability to be commercially viable and to transmit and follow the entrepreneurship to the beneficiaries. For that reason, it should operate in profitable areas of the fishery and aquaculture value chain (for example, high value aquaculture production such as shrimps, tilapia or marine finfish), value added processing or export-oriented cold chain logistics.

   Target groups for redistribution

   The groups eligible for assistance may be selected by the enterprise founders or managers based on local context and social priorities. Examples include:

   -Coastal communities living below the poverty line

   -Small scale fishermen with no access to markets

   -Indigenous populations affected by environmental degradation

   -Elderly people in fishing villages with no pension

   -Homeless individuals in coastal cities

   -Inclusive women and youth with no employment access in aquaculture zones

   The enterprise may choose to work with one or multiple groups simultaneously, adjusting the distribution model as needed.

   Transparency and impact

   A key aspect of the redistributive enterprise model is transparency and accountability. Customers, partners and stakeholders should be regularly informed about how redistribution is carried out and what impacts it is having. This can be communicated through:

   -Regular impacts reports

   -Case studies and testimonials from beneficiaries

   -Partnerships with local NGOs or social workers for evaluation

   This evaluation process is also crucial for understanding which groups face greater challenges and require more sustained or customized support. For instance, assisting elderly pensioners may be more straightforward than working with homeless populations or displaced fishermen, but the latter might have more urgent needs.

   A project writing, including a written agreement and commitment, related training, and strict collaboration with the beneficiaries, is the first step to create impact in this situation.

   Some general examples of practical small scale projects:

   -Organize association or cooperatives of target group

   -Building small and portable cold chain infrastructure and solar-powered storage to reduce post-harvest loss and improve food security

   -Help with sailing power (wind and electrical) for small scale canoes to add to paddle forces

   -Small scale fish processing with traditional and easy equipment (drying, smoking, fermenting, small can)

   -Supporting aqua park, small scale hatcheries, feed production with local ingredients, and alternative livelihoods for communities affected by fish stock decline or ocean changes

   Channels of humanitarian and development support

   Advanced countries or single fishery/aquaculture entrepreneurs can provide support directly or through existing humanitarian and development systems. For example:

   - The World Food Program (WFP) - 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate - already integrated fish into emergency nutrition strategies in some regions.

   - International NGOs, UN agencies or public-private partnerships can also be mobilized to provide not just emergency relief, but climate adaptation funding for fishery-dependent communities.

   This form of targeted, climate-aware assistance is not charity- it is climate justice.

   Conclusions

   The fishery and aquaculture sector can no longer be isolated from the conversation on climate responsibility. The industrialized world must recognize its duty not only to mitigate emissions, but also to protect and empower the vulnerable communities who face the frontlines of climate change. Supporting small-scale fisheries and aquaculture in developing and transition nations is a powerful way to combine food security, resilience, and ethical action in the face of an increasingly unstable climate.

   A redistributive fishery or aquaculture enterprise aligns business success with social inclusion. It reinvents a portion of its profits not just into the company, but into human lives, creating a cycle of dignity, support and shared prosperity- especially in regions where fishery and aquaculture natural resources are abundant, but wealth is not evenly shared.