PASO PACÍFICOT H E S M I L I N G O Y S T E R C O O P E R AT I V E

A WOMEN’S OYSTER COOPERATIVE

Fish are the primary source of animal protein for over one billion people, yet half of them, women, are excluded from fisheries management decisions. Women fishers in Central America are ready to lead as ocean stewards by restoring and managing shellfisheries.

Oyster harvesting has supplemented family incomes since pre-colonial times, but overharvesting and poor management practices are pushing native oyster populations toward collapse. Without intervention, oyster fisheries will not recover. As local people, particularly women, lose their supply of oysters, their food security and environmental wellbeing are jeopardized. Through shellfish aquaculture we can bring sustainable food production and a restored marine environment to communities.

Our commitment In 2013, Paso Pacífico committed to empowering women fishers across Central America by helping them develop shellfish aquaculture. We have launched this commitment in the village of Ostional, Nicaragua where 15 women have formed the “Smiling Oyster Cooperative”. As we work with them to build a successful enterprise we are refining this model before replicating it across the region. We need partners to bring this initiative to full scale.

NICARAGUA

COSTA RICAOSTIONAL

“ T h e r e a r e n ’ t o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r wo m e n h e r e . We a r e N i c a r a g u a n wo m e n a n d j u s t w a n t t o b e a b l e t o wo r k t o p u t f o o d o n t h e t a b l e .”

- M a r i a J o s e S a n c h e z , a g e 4 2 , m o t h e r o f 3

O U R I M PA C T

S O C I A L W E L L B E I N G

O U R I M PA C T E N V I R O N M E N TA L H E A LT H

E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T

w Sustainable oyster supply to local markets

w Increase financial resources for women

w Localized value chains

w Farm to table approach

w Ocean restoration and protection

w Native species recovery

w Water quality improvements

w Nourishment for shorebirds

w New sources of income

for local families

w Business/technical training

w Ocean stewardship

embedded in community

w Greater food security

w Women’s leadership

15

68

500

women have formed the first cooperative

Central Americans directly affected in the next two years

community members directly affected in the next year

We are actively seeking your partnership and support.

O P P O RT U N I T I E S F O R P A RT N E R S H I P :

w Financial management training

w Technological capacity building in aquaculture

w Product development & marketing

w Impact investment

w Philanthropic donations

w Micro-enterprise development

For more information please contact: info@pasopacifico.org

805.643.7044

“We can’t wait to teach our children how

to manage our resources, we want them

to learn to take care of the environment.”

-Angela Vargas

age 38, mother of 3

“… I want to give my son the gift of a healthy oyster population. I don’t want him to have to read about oysters in a book. I want him to see them and enjoy them for himself.”

- Rafaela Vargas Pizana, age 24, mother to one son, Lucas.

“… There are no other projects for women here, but my grandchildren are impressed that I am trying to make something of myself, even at 73. “

-Lucrecia Sanchez Guzman, age 73, mother of 5