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- SA-based organisation ABALOBI is one of 15 finalists for Prince William's 2023 Earthshot Prize.
- ABALOBI helps improve the livelihoods of small-scale fishing communities while ensuring sustainable fishing.
- The organisation was among the more than 1 100 nominations for the environmental prize that was introduced in 2020.
- For climate change news and analysis, go to News24 Climate Future.
South African non-profit ABALOBI is one of the 15 finalists in the running to win Prince William's prestigious Earthshot Prize – over 1 100 nominations were received worldwide.
The Earthshot prize is in its third year and promotes solutions that repair and restore the planet.
ABALOBI, which means "fisher" in isiXhosa, was founded in 2018 and is a collaboration between scientists and small-scale fishers that supports sustainable fishing.
Fishers can capture information about their catches on the ABALOBI app - including how, when and where the fish originate. Via the app, the fishers are also connected to a digital marketplace - where they can demonstrate to customers they are fishing sustainably and can also obtain a fair price for their catch.
According to a document on the different finalists issued by EarthShot Prize - initially, 60% of the fish logged on the ABALOBI app were classified as species "of concern". Now, most or more than 90% of the fish logged are from "ecologically resilient" stocks.
"ABALOBI's solution makes it easier for fishers, buyers and other stakeholders to monitor fish populations and prevent overfishing while securing a fair livelihood, formal recognition and improved market access for fishermen and women," the Earthshot document read.
The solution helps fishers manage their resources in a way that benefits people and the planet, ABALOBI founder and director Dr Serge Raemaekers said in a statement.
"By co-designing catch data and traceability technology in partnership with communities, we enable fishers to stimulate sustainable livelihoods, develop fair and responsible market structures, and gather and leverage data to prioritise ecological resilience and advance fisheries regeneration," Raemaekers added.
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Raemaekers said it is an "honour" to be a finalist for the prize and that it is affirming to small-scale fishers that their efforts to "protect their lifeblood – the ocean – are seen, are supported and are anything but small".
There are five categories for the award – Protect and Restore Nature; Clean Our Air; Revive Our Oceans; Build a Waste-Free World; and Fix Our Climate.
Winners stand to win £1 million (R23 million) in each category. ABALOBI will battle it out against three finalists for the Revive Our Oceans category.
Additionally, all finalists will receive mentorship, resources and technical support through the EarthShot Prize Fellowship programme – which will run over a year. The fellowship programme will help finalists scale their solutions – by giving them access to a network of influential businesses, investors and climate experts.
The Earthshot Prize awards ceremony will take place on 7 November in Singapore.
