Strengthening Blue Communities in the Mediterranean

Diminishing production from capture fisheries in the Mediterranean is increasingly threatening livelihoods, food security, the economy and culture of fishing-dependent communities, a dire situation encompassing millions of people. The approach to FAO's Blue Hope project is founded on two key premises, including that intersectoral action will help to reduce conflicts and maximize collective benefits and that investment planning can help bring stakeholders together to chart a vision for the future while facilitating the mobilization of public and private sector finance to help jumpstart that transition. While Important work still needs to be carried out, the Blue Hope project is making progress in convening key stakeholders, including marginalized groups, women and youth, to develop investment plans that actually respond to community needs, in engaging potential public and private financial institutions, and in fostering interregional exchanges and collaboration.