Why Community Catch?
Small-scale fisheries are responsible for:
%
of global catch
%
of harvests exported
%
of all fishery related workers
female workers
© IPNLF
Small-scale fisheries are the backbone of coastal communities worldwide. They play a crucial role in food security, nutrition, poverty alleviation, and sustainable resource management.
Despite making up roughly 40% of the global catch, with 26% of their harvests exported, small-scale fisheries often struggle to gain recognition and fair access to markets.
They also provide employment for nearly 90% of all fisheries-related workers, including 45 million women, making them one of the largest employers in the ocean economy.
However, many seafood retailers and food service providers rely on certification or ratings schemes to assess sustainability.
While many large industrial fleets from developed nations can often meet these certification requirements, small-scale fishers are frequently excluded—either due to the high costs of certification or because existing standards do not fit the realities of small-scale fisheries.
© Hazel Akester
© IPNLF
At Community Catch, we are committed to breaking down these barriers.
Our Standard is designed to empower small-scale fishers by creating an accessible and fair certification process that connects them to new markets—markets that have historically been out of reach.
By championing sustainability in a way that works for small-scale fisheries, we are ensuring that these vital communities can continue to thrive while preserving our ocean resources for generations to come.
Join us in supporting sustainable small-scale fisheries—because a thriving ocean starts with the communities that depend on it.
Our Values
© Aizawa Fishery
Our Vision
Our vision is a world in which small-scale fishers contribute to, and benefit from, the sustainable use of fisheries resources.
© Pepe Brix
Our Mission
Our mission is to connect small-scale fishers to those markets which bring the greatest benefit for fishing communities and their environment. We provide the support, tools and connections needed to allow fishing communities to develop sustainability.
© Yinji Li
Our Purpose
Small-scale fishers are critical in coastal communities, marine ecosystems and global food security. Community catch creates a level playing field for small-scale fishers – giving them a voice in the growing ‘sustainable’ fish and seafood markets.