Nuquí Fish
Selling fresh fish and seafood through a community-led, sustainable artisanal fishing model
- Company
- Sustainable agriculture
- Latin America
- 2026
- Active
The Challenge
In Nuquí, Chocó, fishing is one of the main sources of income and an essential pillar of the region’s food and nutrition security. However, the majority of fishers rely on intermediaries to sell their catch and use boats and equipment owned by these buyers. This dependence limits fishers’ bargaining power, restricts their access to higher-value markets, and keeps many fishing families trapped in cycles of debt, in a region that has historically faced gaps in infrastructure, connectivity, and access to opportunities.
The Innovation
Nuquí Fish works directly with fishing families to transform the traditional relationship between buyers and fishers. The company makes regular purchases at fair and stable prices, allowing fishers to strengthen their ability to save and gradually invest in purchasing or improving their own equipment and boats. Nuquí Fish also promotes selective fishing practices, such as using hooks and lines instead of nets, along with protocols for handling, quality, and traceability. In addition, it develops value-added processed products that make use of traditionally undervalued species, diversifying demand and reducing pressure on the most commercially sought-after species.
The Impact
The model seeks to expand income-generating opportunities for fishing families in Nuquí and strengthen local leadership, including among women and young people involved in the fishing value chain. By offering timely payments and fair prices, the initiative aims to help fishers move toward greater economic autonomy and financial stability while contributing to the conservation of the region’s fish stocks and marine biodiversity, on which these communities’ income and long-term food security depend.
Linking Colombia’s Pacific fishers to higher-value markets
Backed by Acumen, IDB Lab, and Fundación Bancolombia, Nuquí Fish aims to build economic autonomy for fishing families on Colombia’s Pacific coast.
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Learn more about how we solve problems of poverty unlike any other investor on the planet.
Nuquí Fish
Comercialización de pescado fresco y productos del mar mediante un modelo de pesca artesanal y sostenible liderado por integrantes de la comunidad
