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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In Nuquí, Chocó, fishing is one of the main sources of income for local communities and, at the same time, an essential source of food and nutrition security. However, accessing higher-value markets remains a challenge for many fishers due to their dependence on intermediaries, who often set both purchasing and payment terms.
Nearly 85% of fishers in the region rely on intermediaries to sell their catch and use boats and fishing equipment owned by these buyers. This dependence limits their bargaining power and can keep them trapped in cycles of debt.
To help change this reality, Acumen, and in partnership with IDB Lab and Fundación Bancolombia, is supporting Nuquí Fish to strengthen a community-led sustainable fishing model. The organizations’ support also aims to contribute to the region’s economic development. Historically, Nuquí has faced gaps in infrastructure, connectivity, and access to opportunities, limiting communities’ ability to participate in new economic activities and markets.
Nuquí Fish is a company that sells fresh fish and seafood sourced through responsible artisanal fishing practices. The company also markets value-added processed seafood products. Led by a local fisherman, Nuquí Fish works directly with fishing families and seeks to reshape the traditional relationship between buyers and fishers through regular purchases at fair and stable prices. The goal is to create conditions that strengthen fishers’ ability to save and gradually invest in purchasing or improving their own equipment and boats.
Through its direct relationships with fishers, the initiative seeks to expand income-generating opportunities and strengthen local leadership, including among women and young people involved in the fishing value chain.
“This initiative represents an opportunity for fishers in Nuquí to move toward greater economic autonomy through fair prices and timely payments that allow them to progressively invest in the equipment they need for their work. We believe this model can contribute to more stable incomes for families, strengthen the region’s economic development, and consolidate a sustainable fishing sector that promotes the conservation of fish stocks and marine biodiversity while strengthening the community’s capacity to respond to the region’s economic and environmental challenges.”
Elvia Gómez, Associate Director of Acumen Latin America
Sustainability is at the core of the model. Nuquí Fish promotes and provides training in selective fishing practices, such as the use of hooks and fishing lines instead of nets, as well as protocols for handling, quality, and traceability. By developing new products, the company also seeks to make better use of species that have traditionally been undervalued, diversifying demand and generating greater value for fishers while reducing pressure on the most commercially sought-after species.
Together, these practices aim to contribute to the conservation of marine ecosystems, on which both the livelihoods and long-term food security of Nuquí’s communities depend.
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Conectando la pesca del Pacífico con mercados de mayor valor
Con apoyo de Acumen, BID Lab y la Fundación Bancolombia, Nuquí Fish busca mayor autonomía económica para familias pescadoras del Pacífico colombiano.
