SmartFish’s Value Rescue Model or VRM is an innovative, collaborative process that works across the seafood value chain. It links small-scale fisher cooperatives that adopt or maintain sustainable fishing practices to better-paying markets that not only value premium quality seafood but also sustainable practice. 

Through the application of VRM, cooperatives can transition from being price-takers to entrepreneurs by developing capacities to: 1) increase the quality and value of their products; 2) strengthen the institutional capacity of their organizations; and 3) internalize fisheries management measures. By producing higher quality, more sustainable seafood and partnering with a social intermediary that can differentiate their catch into preferential markets, fishers engaging in the VRM earn more while fishing more sustainably with the same or less volume, which also enable them to strengthen the social contributions of their cooperatives. 

OIC’s support will be used to accelerate and extend the VRM to 15 cooperatives, train 300 fishers and value chain workers, implement digital traceability systems, construct or repurpose processing plants, design and install solar-powered cold chain facilities, and increase cooperatives' revenues.

IMPLEMENTATION STATUS: Progress summary as of November 2022 (PDF)