Wild fisheries provide livelihoods and food security for about 3 billion people in developing countries. Sustainable management and conservation of fisheries and other marine and coastal resources support countries in their journey to self-reliance and promote national security. Effective marine conservation maintains and enhances valuable ecosystems and their natural capital, ensuring fish and healthy oceans for tomorrow as well as today.

In FY22, USAID invested more than $73 million in over 25 countries and operating units to promote sustainable fisheries and conserve marine biodiversity. Our work focuses on strengthening resource governance and management, enhancing resilience, improving food security and inclusive development, combating illegal fishing, promoting seafood traceability, empowering women and diversifying financial strategies for achieving durable change.

 

Where USAID invests in fisheries, marine conservation and coastal management

Asia

  • Bangladesh

    Enhanced Coastal Fisheries in Bangladesh II (ECOFISH II)

    ECOFISH II helps prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in Bangladesh through enhanced sustainable fisheries management and conservation efforts in the lower Meghna River ecosystem and the Bay of Bengal in Cox's Bazar District.
  • Cambodia

    Wonders of the Mekong (WOM)

    The Wonders of the Mekong project conducts applied research, builds capacity, and develops outreach and communications products to highlight the economic, ecological, and cultural values of fisheries, biodiversity, and ecosystem services associated with the Lower Mekong River, leading to better protection of a vibrant and healthy Lower Mekong system.
  • India, Indonesia

    Blended Finance Partnership with Circulate Capital

    USAID and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation are supporting a $35 million loan portfolio guarantee for Circulate Capital to support the reduction of plastic pollution in South and Southeast Asia. Backed by PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, Dow, Danone, Unilever, and Coca-Cola, Circulate Capital will make loans to recycling companies…
  • Indonesia

    USAID Bersama Kelola Perikanan (Ber-IKAN)

    The Ber-IKAN activity supports the Government of Indonesia in protecting its marine biodiversity by supporting sustainable and equitable management of fisheries. USAID Ber-IKAN will help improve fisheries management by applying an ecosystem approach to fisheries management and promoting investments that expand market access for the target fisheries and strengthen the…
  • Indonesia

    USAID Konservasi Laut Efektif (Kolektif)

    The Kolektif activity strengthens the protection of Indonesia’s marine biodiversity by improving the management of Indonesian marine protected areas (MPA).USAID Kolektif will identify existing gaps and underlying factors that limit the effectiveness of MPA management and work collaboratively to address those gaps towards well managed MPAs.
  • Indonesia

    Blue Abadi Fund

    The Blue Abadi Fund is a dedicated conservation trust fund for the Bird’s Head Seascape that empowers local communities and agencies to sustainably manage their marine resources by procuring local revenue sources and providing complimentary grants.
  • Pacific Islands

    OurFish OurFuture

    OurFish OurFuture addresses the social and ecological drivers of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing that are degrading coastal fisheries and biodiversity and negatively impacting local livelihoods, food stability, and maritime security for the Pacific region with operations in 6 focus Pacific Island countries.
  • Papua New Guinea

    Lukautim Graun

    The Lukautim Graun, or “look after the environment,” project will reduce the primary threats to marine and terrestrial biodiversity in Papua New Guinea by strengthening management of customary lands and waters in exceptional terrestrial and marine biodiversity areas.
  • Philippines

    Investing in Sustainability and Partnerships for Inclusive Growth and Regenerative Ecosystems (INSPIRE)

    The INSPIRE activity is a grant facility that supports civil society organizations in implementing local conservation and climate actions. INSPIRE has awarded 12 grants that work in 77 coastal cities and municipalities in 17 provinces in the Philippines to advance inclusive marine and coastal resource governance, enhance food security, increase…
  • Philippines

    Fish Right

    The USAID Fish Right Program is a partnership between the governments of the United States and the Philippines to promote sustainable and resilient fisheries. Launched in 2018, this $33 million project aims to address biodiversity threats, improve marine ecosystem governance, and increase fish biomass in select marine key biodiversity and…
  • Philippines

    Sustainable Interventions for Biodiversity, Ocean, and Landscapes (SIBOL)

    The SIBOL project helps the Philippine government improve governance and sustainable management of natural resources and reduce environmental crimes. Recognizing the ecological and economic significance of the Philippines’ rich marine biodiversity, the project will also highlight the value of strengthening marine protected areas and the role of community-based marine resource…
  • Philippines, Indonesia

    Meloy Fund

    The Meloy Fund partners with USAID in the Philippines and Indonesia to support sustainable fish and seafood-related businesses and to help develop value chains that will contribute to coastal and marine biodiversity conservation goals.
  • Regional

    Sustainable Fish Asia Technical Support (SUFIA TS)

    SUFIA TS promotes sustainable fisheries and conserves marine biodiversity in the Indo-Pacific region by improving regional sustainable fisheries policies, standards, and regulatory frameworks; promoting fair labor and sustainable fishing practices; and enhancing the capacity of regional institutions and non-governmental organizations in collaboration, communications, and outreach.
  • Regional

    Sustainable Coral Triangle

    The Sustainable Coral Triangle grant to the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF) will work to advance regional sustainable fisheries management by implementing regional policy frameworks, strengthening local communities' resilience to climate change, and increasing investments in marine biodiversity conservation.
  • Regional

    Sustainable Fish Asia - NOAA Interagency Agreement

    USAID/RDMA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provide technical assistance to regional organizations, including on the implementation of the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing.
  • Timor-Leste

    Plastics Solution Alliance

    The Plastics Solution Alliance is developing new technologies to transform plastic waste of any variety into products with a lower price point than non-recycled alternatives. The Alliance brings together two of Timor-Leste's largest companies with USAID, Mercy Corps, and the Korean International Cooperation Agency to create a value chain for…
  • Vietnam

    Mekong Delta Coastal Habitat Conservation

    The Mekong Delta Coastal Habitat Conservation activity mitigates threats to coastal biodiversity and fisheries and enhances resilience to climate change in the Mekong Delta by working with businesses, provincial governments, management boards, and fishing communities to test and build on new policy and financing opportunities.

Africa

  • Ghana

    Sustainable Fisheries Management Program (SFMP)

    SFMP works to rebuild marine fisheries stocks and catches through adoption of responsible fishing practices.
  • Ghana

    Ghana Fisheries Recovery Activity (GFRA)

    GFRA reduces fishing overcapacity and improves small pelagic fisheries management to encourage ecological sustainability and marine biodiversity conservation and improve the socioeconomic well-being, food security, and resilience of fishers and coastal communities in Ghana.
  • Madagascar

    Nosy Manga - Marine Ecosystems and Community

    Nosy Manga, a public-private partnership between USAID, Ocean Farmers, and Indian Ocean Trepang, is scaling up a holistic aquaculture model for the sustainable production of seaweed and sea cucumber to promote new livelihoods and help alleviate poverty in coastal populations across Madagascar.
  • Madagascar

    Mikajy

    Mikajy, which means “taking good care of” in Malagasy, supports critical biodiversity conservation efforts in forested and coastal ecosystems and empowers local communities in these regions to locally manage their natural resources, while also providing new economic opportunities and support for natural resource tenure and property rights.
  • Madagascar

    Hay Tao

    Hay Tao's main goal is to create a supportive and enabling environment to promote resilient livelihoods for terrestrial and coastal communities and biodiversity conservation.
  • Mozambique

    Resilient Coastal Communities

    The Resilient Coastal Communities activity improves the resilience of coastal communities in northern Mozambique, where rich yet fragile marine and terrestrial ecosystems are at risk of climatic shocks and human-inflicted degradation.
  • Senegal

    Feed the Future Dekkal Geej (Reviving the Seas): Toward Sustainable Fisheries

    The Dekkal Geej activity aims to improve management of fisheries for ecological sustainability.
  • West Africa

    The USAID Women Shellfishers and Food Security Project

    The Woman Shellfishers and Food Security research activity addresses the need for greater attention to food security for women shellfishers and their families in 11 coastal countries in West Africa while also improving the conservation of the ecosystems on which their livelihoods depend.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Caribbean

    Combating Wildlife Trafficking in the Caribbean

    The Caribbean Development Program’s first regional activity to combat wildlife trafficking in the Caribbean region reduces the illegal collection of and poaching demands for illegally traded wildlife in international trade for food, pets, medicines, jewelry, and crafts.
  • Colombia, Ecuador, Peru

    Partnership for Sustainably Managed Fisheries

    The Partnership for Sustainably Managed Fisheries supports the governments of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru to enforce domestic and international fisheries agreements, document and share information with government agencies and neighboring countries, and develop and implement plans to sustainably manage important coastal or marine species or areas.
  • Eastern and South Caribbean

    Technical Assistance for the USAID’s Caribbean Development Program

    The Technical Assistance for the USAID’s Caribbean Development Program provides small grants to local environmental organizations in the Caribbean to help them conserve marine and coastal biodiversity, combat illegal wildlife trade, and build the capacity of local conservation leaders.
  • Ecuador, Peru

    Combating IUU in Peru and Ecuador (Por La Pesca)

    The Por La Pesca (For Fisheries) activity reduces illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing by national and foreign fleets in four socioeconomically and ecologically important artisanal fisheries in Ecuador and Peru.
  • El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras

    Regional Coastal Biodiversity Project (RCBP)

    The Regional Coastal Biodiversity Project works to conserve biodiversity in coastal-marine ecosystems through good governance and biocommerce, for the benefit of local communities.
  • Honduras

    Conserving Coastal Ecosystems (CCE)

    The CCE activity improves coastal ecosystem management to protect biodiversity, promote climate change adaptation and mitigation, and generate economic opportunity and resilience for Indigenous Peoples and local communities in Honduras.

Global

  • Global

    Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Fish

    The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Fish's mission is to reduce poverty and improve nutrition, food security, and livelihoods in developing countries through reliable and inclusive provision of fish, a nutrient-rich food, by supporting the sustainable development of fisheries and aquaculture systems.
  • Global

    Targeting Natural Resource Corruption (TNRC)

    Targeting Natural Resource Corruption (TNRC) seeks to improve biodiversity outcomes by equipping practitioners to address the threats posed by corruption to wildlife, fisheries and forests. TNRC harnesses existing knowledge, generates new evidence and supports innovative policy and practice for more effective anti-corruption programming. The project is implemented by a consortium…
  • Global

    Strengthening Tenure and Resource Rights II

    Strengthening Tenure and Resource Rights II is designed to improve land tenure, marine tenure, property rights and resource governance through targeted interventions or integrated activities in support of broader development objectives.
  • Global

    Sustainable Ocean Fund (SOF)

    SOF is a Development Finance Corporation-managed fund that provides private debt investments in sustainable fisheries, supply chain improvement, and marine conservation.

Completed

  • Asia Pacific Region

    Sustainble Fish Asia Local Capacity Development (SUFIA LCD)

    SUFIA LCD built the institutional capacity of two regional organizations, the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center and the Coral Triangle Initiative for Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security, to improve the management of marine biodiversity and fisheries resources in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Vincent, The Grenadines

    Caribbean Marine Biodiversity Program

    The Caribbean Marine Biodiversity Program aims to achieve sustained biodiversity conservation, to maintain and restore critical ecosystems and to realize tangible improvements in human and community well-being.
  • Ecuador

    Strengthening Natural Resource Governance in Ecuador (SNRGE)

    The SNRGE partnership helps conserve Ecuador's wildlife, fisheries, and forests through enhanced transparency and enforcement. SNRGE will identify, prioritize, and implement activities to protect Ecuador's biodiversity from threats such as illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and wildlife trafficking.
  • Global

    Seafood Alliance for Legality and Traceability (SALT)

    SALT is a global alliance for knowledge exchange and action to promote legal and sustainable fisheries through improved transparency in seafood supply chains.
  • Global

    Municipal Waste Recycling Program (MWRP)

    MWRP focuses on identifying and scaling innovations to improve municipal waste recycling in Asian countries to reduce marine plastic pollution.
  • Hispaniola

    Integrated Marine Ecosystems Management in Northern Hispaniola

    The Integrated Marine Ecosystems Management in Northern Hispaniola project aims to reduce local threats to biodiversity in coastal and marine ecosystems along the Haitian-Dominican Republic border in Northern Hispaniola, while minimizing economic and cultural disruption for communities that depend on those ecosystems.
  • Indonesia

    Sustainable Ecosystems Advanced (SEA)

    SEA supports the Government of Indonesia to improve the governance of fisheries and marine resources and to conserve biological diversity.
  • Indonesia

    Supporting Nature and People – Partnership for Enduring Resources (SNAPPER)

    SNAPPER aims to enhance sustainability and profitability of deep-slope capture fisheries in Indonesia through effective collaboration between companies, communities and government agencies.
  • Malawi

    Fisheries Integration of Society and Habitats Project (FISH)

    FISH aims to achieve increased social, ecological and economic resilience of freshwater ecosystems and people who depend on them in four freshwater ecosystems.
  • Nepal

    Enhancing Watershed Management: Integrated Water Resources Management in Nepal

    USAID’s Program for Aquatic Natural Resources Improvement, known as Paani (Nepali for water), aims to enhance Nepal’s ability to manage water resources through an integrated approach in 12 priority watersheds.
  • Philippines

    Ecosystems Improved for Sustainable Fisheries (ECOFISH)

    ECOFISH's objective was to conserve marine biodiversity by improving the management of coastal and marine resources and associated ecosystems that support the local economies of eight marine key biodiversity areas in the Philippines.
  • Regional Development Mission for Asia (RDMA)

    Oceans and Fisheries Partnership

    The Oceans and Fisheries Partnership works to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, to promote sustainable fisheries and to conserve marine biodiversity in the Asia-Pacific region.
  • Senegal

    Collaborative Management for a Sustainable Fisheries Future (COMFISH)

    COMFISH seeks to prevent overfishing and ensure that marine fisheries in Senegal provide a sustainable source of high-quality protein for the nation, help improve the quality of life in artisanal fishing communities and maintain the productive capacity of marine and coastal ecosystems.
Back to Top