Cisco Teams Up with Ocean Conservation Nonprofit to Empower Coastal Communities

Cisco Systems Inc., through its $100M climate commitment to invest in tech-based nature preservation solutions, has partnered with ocean conservation nonprofit Blue Ventures. The two organizations are working together to support coastal communities in rebuilding fisheries and restoring ocean life.

Breanna Mossiah-Conorquie, Belize Country Director for Blue Ventures, believes that empowering people is key to achieving conservation efforts. 'At the end of the day, any decision we make that supports conservation efforts also affects people,' she says.

The nonprofit has been working closely with coastal communities in Belize, particularly fishermen like Ron Escobar and Paula Jacobs Williams. They have developed a Community Fisheries Data system, designed to help fishers collect and visualize data on their catches. This information is then used to make informed decisions about fishing practices and support sustainable management of fisheries.

The goal is to bridge the divide between communities and policy by providing accessible, local data that allows small-scale fishers and workers to share evidence of their experiences with conservation efforts. By doing so, they can join conversations about conservation strategy and advocate for policies that benefit their livelihoods.