Voices from the field: How data strengthens livelihoods in coastal communities

Blue Ventures, a London-based nonprofit supported by the Cisco Foundation’s $100M climate commitment, is empowering coastal fishing communities in Belize by developing a Community Fisheries Data system that trains fishers to collect and analyze their own data on fish populations. By placing data ownership in the hands of community members, the nonprofit helps small-scale fishers make informed decisions about sustainable fishing practices and advocate for evidence-based ocean conservation.