In December 2021, Only One members supported Noroeste Sustentable in their efforts alongside the local community to establish sustainable oyster farming and tourism as alternative livelihoods in El Manglito, a fishing village in the Bay of La Paz, Mexico.
In early 2021, the fishermen of El Manglito received 240,000 oysters, which they planted in a new culture ground. Only One members’ donations paid for the construction of metal oyster beds, which has enabled the fishermen to continue maintaining their crop. It’s the start of a sustainable oyster farming operation designed to be an alternative livelihood for the local community and to encourage the coastal ecosystem’s health and vibrancy.
Only One also provided funding for people in the community to take part in training workshops to develop their innovative tourism initiative, Manglitours. On a “Manglitour,” visitors go on a four-hour tour of the local natural environment, during which they learn about the history of restoring the Bay of La Paz and experience mollusk fishing, either snorkeling or kayaking on the estuaries, and spotting birds, turtles, and marine mammals.
Project impact
16 fishermen received funding to establish and nurture a crop of 240K oysters in El Manglito using sustainable farming practices.
6 training workshops were delivered to enable 8 local community members to develop their expertise in ecotourism.
600 local residents have the potential to benefit from new sources of income, such as fishing, aquaculture, ecotourism, and coastal restoration.
Why advancing sustainable aquaculture in El Manglito matters
Around ten years ago, El Manglito and the entire Bay of La Paz were feeling the effects of overfishing. Local residents’ livelihoods were under a lot of pressure as pen shells were being harvested with no controls and were therefore running out. When the fishermen realized what was happening, they decided to all work together by making a remarkable pact to not fish in a designated area.
In 2012, there were only 60,000 pen shells left in the Bay of La Paz. But by 2015, thanks to the pact to give up fishing, that number had grown to three million. The local communities, including El Manglito, are starting to benefit from the restoration of the bay. That’s why it matters more than ever that sustainable economic development is fostered: initiatives like the oyster farm will allow the ocean ecosystem to stay balanced while strengthening the fishing village’s organizational capacity.
