Fishtainable-Powered Municipal Fishing

Already in an inequitable position in the value chain, small-scale fishers are further burdened by growing costs of fishing inputs. Fishtainable plans to lease out electric engines to fishers. This solution helps them reduce costs by going electric on their fishing boats and do away with fuel in fishing. 

The same electric engines will be integrated with data gathering instruments, enabling traceability of caught fish - a measure to fight marine biodiversity degradation that weakens the ocean’s ecosystem and its ability to withstand climate change. Lastly, traced fish would promote sustainability and provide additional value to consumers.

According to FAO (2014), in the last decade, the cost of fuel and other energy sources have, on a rising trend, become increasingly volatile. This instability has had a notably adverse effect on the viability of the fisheries industry. Fishers are often greatly affected by the variability of prices of fishing inputs, especially fuel. Fishers are often tempted to do illegal practices just to be able to make both ends meet and gain more profit. The effect of climate change is inevitable, and the small-scale fishers are the least likely to adapt. It is crucial for these fishers to adopt climate friendly practices now. 

Climate change’s impacts on marine fisheries negatively influence a wide range of socio-economic factors, food security, livelihood, public health, and most especially, the food security of low-carbon and nutritious fish.

Fishtainable can help address climate change in three (3) ways:

1. Reduction of GHG emission by employing electric engines to small-scale fisher motor boats

2. Supporting and promoting the consumption of ocean-based foods to divert people from meat that require high carbon emission to produce

3. Help gather ocean condition data for better climate change monitoring and sustainability management and enforcement

Doing away with fuel / lessening fuel consumption

Most small-scale fishing boats use two-stroke fuel engines, which are environmental hazards. FIshtainable’s two-phase process of replacing these engines: (Phase 1) transition to a more fuel-efficient and less-in-pollution four-stroke engine and (Phase 2) transition to battery-powered electric engines to totally omit GHG emissions.

Traceability and promoting sustainability to consumers

Fishtainable aims to work with businesses and fishers to deliver traceable and sustainably-caught fish to the public.

- Fishtainable engines will have a GPS device that collects data on a fisherman’s daily catch

- It traces details of where, when, and what batch of fish a fisher caught, as attributable proof of their sustainable practice

- Info will be stored in a QR code that will appear on order documents or packaging

Monitoring ocean conditions

Fishtainable engines will also be integrated with monitoring devices: PH meter, turbidity sensors, temperature sensors, and dissolved oxygen sensors. The generated data will be stored and endorsed to regulating bodies such as the Department of Science and Technology, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to aid in better management of the seas.

The Philippines is an archipelago where 80% of its population lives in coastal areas. There are 1.9 million small-scale fishers who have been providing a significant contribution to the fisheries industry and yet end up receiving a disproportionately low percentage of economic value in the value chain. The struggle to make ends meet due to the high costs of their fishing inputs. 

Fishtainable is co-led by a strong advocate of marine conservation. Flora works directly with several coastal communities in the country to work with small-scale fishers and in building resiliency in this critical time. These fishers belong to a vulnerable group that is considered by many to be the least likely to adapt to changing climatic conditions.  

Fishers co-developed the solution with the founders through frequent consultation. The use of their indigenous knowledge in fishing was vital in the identification of the solution.

Fishtainable’s solution helps fishers reduce costs by going electric on their fishing boats and do away with fuel in fishing while supporting marine biodiversity conservation by fishing responsibly.

By making inputs cheaper and equipping municipal fishers with tracing capabilities, we are able to empower small-scale fishers to become key contributors in producing and promoting the shift towards low-carbon, resilient, and nutritious food -- fish.

• Allan Carlo C. Apelo (a licensed electronics engineer with more than six years in telecommunications)

• Kevin E. Rotairo (a technical lead who develops conversational AIs, computer vision applications, and machine learning models)

• Mark Armand P. Sazon (a founder and managing director of an independent advertising agency) 

• Lew Andrew R. Tria (an associate professor at the University of the Philippines, teaching electrical, electronics, and energy engineering)

• Ma. Flora Monica Belinario (a licensed Fisheries Technologist and an advocate for marine conservation, currently works with Rare, a leading behavior change organization in conservation as a Senior Manager for Financial and Market Inclusion)