Our Story
Bluer Seas Philippines Inc. (Bluer Seas) was born out of efforts to localize seafood sustainability for the Philippine domestic market. Following the success of the Better Seafood Philippines program implemented by Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) under the USAID-funded Fish Right Program, it became apparent that a local non-profit organisation would be critical in sustaining the gains of the responsible seafood sourcing movement in the Philippines.
The Fish Right Program is a seven-year partnership between the governments of the Philippines and the United States of America, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), to improve marine biodiversity and the fisheries sector in three key biodiversity areas. The program runs from 2018 to 2025.
The reality of Philippine fisheries
In 2022, the Philippines produced 4.34 million MT of fish, worth P 326 billion.
Per capita fish consumption in 2021 is at 34.28 kg/ year.
An estimated 2.3 million Filipinos are directly engaged in fisheries.
About 70% of Philippine fishing grounds are considered overfished.
Philippines loses about 68.5 billon pesos every year to Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated fishing.
A staggering 93.1% of wild fisheries are not currently under sustainability programs or rated against fisheries standards.
To address the challenges of overfishing and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, Bluer Seas Philippines fostered partnerships with institutional seafood buyers to link environmental champion fishing communities and incentivize responsible fishing practices. As the demand for responsibly sourced seafood grew, the team saw the importance of developing more meaningful and equitable value chains that enabled fishers to have greater market access.
Mission, Vision, & Core Values
OUR VISION
“To be a catalyst of market solutions for seafood sustainability, co-creating transformative and equitable ecosystems for the well-being of the Philippine seafood industry.”
OUR MISSION
Transform the Philippine seafood industry into: an effective steward of healthy aquatic and marine ecosystems a driving force for fishing communities’ prosperity Inform and influence research, policy, and practice in support of responsible seafood sourcing
OUR VALUES
We are transparent
Our processes and practices are clear, providing full disclosure of relevant results to enable decision-making of stakeholders.
We are responsive
We are timely and proactive so we can effectively address emerging challenges.
We have integrity
We have unwavering conviction and steadfast commitment to being effective stewards of healthy oceans and prosperous communities.
We are adaptable
We think outside the box, embrace harmonious fusion of tradition and innovation, and adjust seamlessly to changing situations.
We are inclusive
We ensure all supply chain actors are valued and have equal access to opportunities.
