Blueyou Group, Programs, Artesmar®

Recognizing the Merits of Artisanal Small-Scale Fishing

Artesmar® is a unique fishery development and improvement program, dedicated to artisanal small-scale fisheries worldwide. The program recognizes high catch selectivity and low impacts on aquatic habitats as important merits of many small-scale fisheries.

Artesmar® addresses the specific challenges of small-scale fisheries and offers a functional framework for stepwise fishery improvement focusing on triple bottom line outcomes (economy, environment and local livelihoods and social impact).

By creating direct market access for seafood caught by smallholder fishers, the Artesmar® program uses market-incentivized processes and socioeconomic benefits as key drivers for the development of more sustainable business and fishing practices.

For a brief overview, please check out the Artesmar® leaflet:

Artesmar® Leaflet (English)
Artesmar® Leaflet (Español)

For more in-depth information, please read the Artesmar® Brochure

Background: The Marginalization of Small-Scale Fisheries

Artisanal small-scale fisheries employ more than 90% of the world’s fishers and significantly contribute to global landings and trade of seafood. However, small-scale fisheries have largely been left out of the potentially rewarding process of fishery improvement and seafood certification.

This condition results in a debate over whether certification schemes, such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), can be directly applied to the realities of small-scale fisheries in developing countries or if there is a need for intermediate approaches towards fisheries improvement through market recognition and third-party verification.

Considering the multiple constraints and complex challenges many small scale fisheries are facing, it becomes obvious that candidate fisheries need market recognition and incentives for improvement prior to achieving certification. The Artesmar® initiative was specifically created to serve this need.

Recognizing the Assets of Small-Scale Fisheries

The Artesmar® initiative recognizes two distinctive aspects of many artisanal small-scale fisheries: Their high catch selectivity and the low impact of capture gear. These two properties render products from many artisanal small-scale fisheries a more sustainable seafood choice when compared to their industrial counterparts.

Artesmar® Project Portraits

The Artesmar® program currently encompasses three fisheries. Click below to learn about our existing projects and how artisanal fishermen have mastered the art of selective fishing.

Yellowfin Tuna | Handline | Maldives
Yellowfin Tuna | Handline | Philippines
Mahi Mahi | Single Hook & Troll | Philippines