Supporting Women Innovators in the Ocean Food Sector

Reflections from the Women in Ocean Food Programme – Latin America and the Caribbean

By Patricia Bianchi, ASC AIP & Governance Manager

Across Latin America and the Caribbean, a new generation of women is driving innovation in the ocean economy—developing solutions that address some of the sector’s most pressing environmental and social challenges.

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to participate as a mentor in the Women in Ocean Food programme for Latin America and the Caribbean, an initiative led by Hatch Blue and Conservation International that supports women working across the ocean and seafood sectors in the region. The programme’s fifth edition, held in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, brought together women leading climate-positive initiatives in aquaculture, marine biotechnology, seafood value chains, ocean conservation, and blue carbon.

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has been a proud supporter of this initiative since its inception, reflecting our broader commitment to fostering innovation and leadership in responsible aquaculture. Through this programme, I had the privilege of joining a group of mentors working with a remarkable cohort of women leaders developing solutions to some of the most pressing challenges in ocean communities in Latin America and the Caribbean.

It was truly impressive to witness the level of innovation and creativity emerging from local communities with the potential for global impact. This programme not only creates valuable networking opportunities but also provides structured capacity-building support to strengthen participants’ projects from a business perspective. Participants take part in a programme that combines mentorship, workshops and expert guidance. Throughout the process, women refine their business models, sharpen their value propositions and explore strategies to scale their impact within their communities.

For many women working in emerging blue economy sectors, this type of support is essential. Innovation alone is not enough. Turning promising ideas into viable businesses requires access to networks, strategic advice and the confidence that comes from learning with peers facing similar challenges. The programme helps bridge that gap.

Just as importantly, it creates a community that continues long after the programme ends. Women who have participated in previous editions remain connected and often return as mentors, supporting the next generation of women joining the programme. Others have gained access to funding and joined the Improver Programme by ASC to improve their environmental performance and advance towards responsible aquaculture practices. Over time, this helps build a growing regional network of women leaders in ocean industries across Latin America and the Caribbean.

At ASC, this kind of progression reflects the role of our Improver Programme, which supports producers through structured frameworks, technical guidance, and partnerships to advance responsible aquaculture practices. By connecting stakeholders and providing practical tools for improvement, the programme helps translate ambition into measurable change at the farm level.

Initiatives like Women in Ocean Food show that progress in responsible aquaculture often starts well before formal improvement programmes. By supporting women entrepreneurs through mentorship, training and networks, the programme helps turn innovative ideas into viable ventures. These early-stage efforts complement initiatives such as the Improver Programme, which provide structured pathways to implement and verify improvements on a scale.

Together, these efforts work hand in hand: one helps ideas and leadership emerge, while the other supports the journey toward measurable improvements.

A cohort tackling real ocean challenges

The 2026 cohort reflects the diversity of the region’s emerging blue economy, with projects spanning aquaculture, biotechnology, ocean monitoring and circular solutions.

Some startups are exploring the use of ocean monitoring technologies. For example, Nereuz is developing AI systems to monitor marine ecosystems and support decision-making across aquaculture and conservation.

Others focus on improving sustainability in aquaculture. In Colombia, Piscícola La Zunilda is using recirculating aquaculture systems to produce tilapia more efficiently while reducing water use.

Circular and regenerative approaches are also part of the programme. Regenerative Enterprise is working on systems to treat aquaculture effluents and recover nutrients, while Rum and Sargassum is converting invasive seaweed into renewable energy in the Caribbean.  At the same time, initiatives like Tide are promoting seaweed farming as a low-impact solution that supports both environmental sustainability and local livelihoods.

Together, these ventures show how innovation in the blue economy can address environmental, social and economic challenges simultaneously.

Why initiatives like these matter

At ASC, our work focuses on improving aquaculture practices through standards, certification and collaboration with producers and partners across the seafood sector.

However, long-term transformation in ocean food systems also depends on new technologies and new leadership. Supporting initiatives that empower entrepreneurs, particularly women leaders, helps strengthen the innovation ecosystem that the sector needs.

Programmes like Women in Ocean Food provide a platform where emerging ventures can refine their ideas, connect with experts and partners, and gain the confidence needed to advance their businesses.

For ASC, supporting this type of initiative aligns closely with our mission to advance responsible aquaculture and contribute to more sustainable ocean food systems.

The value of mentorship

One of the most rewarding aspects of the programme has been the opportunity to work directly with women as a mentor.

Many of them are navigating complex sectors where access to strategic guidance, industry connections and investment opportunities can be limited. Mentorship creates a space to exchange ideas, explore challenges and identify opportunities that can help accelerate the growth of their ventures.

At the same time, mentors also learn a great deal from these conversations. The passion, resilience and creativity of the women in this cohort are a powerful reminder of the potential that exists across the region.

Looking ahead

The ocean food sector is evolving rapidly, and addressing the challenges facing ocean ecosystems and seafood production will require collaboration across sectors, disciplines and geographies.

Initiatives like Women in Ocean Food demonstrate how investing in women, and in the networks that support them, can help unlock new solutions and build a stronger, more inclusive ocean economy.

Personally, it has been a privilege to contribute as a mentor and to learn from such an inspiring group of women. I look forward to following their journeys and seeing how their innovations continue to shape the future of ocean food.

About the Improver Programme by ASC

The Improver Programme by ASC includes Aquaculture Improvement Projects (AIPs), a structured and time-bound model designed to support farms and supply chain partners in improving practices and progressing towards responsible aquaculture aligned with ASC standards. AIPs follow a stepwise approach that includes gap analysis, implementation of improvement actions, and independent verification of progress, providing a credible pathway toward certification or demonstrable performance improvement.

Beyond farm-level projects, ASC is also developing Improver Spaces to support improvement at scale in contexts where certification or individual AIPs alone may not yet be feasible. These initiatives address broader structural barriers such as limited access to finance, fragmented supply chains, regulatory gaps and restricted technical support, while remaining aligned with ASC standards and assurance systems.

Improver Spaces can be implemented through different models depending on the local context. These include locally relevant Codes of Good Practice that create incentives for improved performance in domestic or regional markets; landscape or jurisdictional approaches that bring together producers, governments and partners to address shared environmental and social risks; and service delivery models where supply chain actors provide technical support, inputs, finance and market access to producers.