$250 000 backing for Earthshot Prize finalist

An organisation that works to protect small-scale fishing communities last week received a cash injection during Prince William’s royal visit to South Africa. News24 reports that he visited fishermen supported by Abalobi, a 2023 Earthshot finalist, as part of a series of engagements around the Earthshot Prize, awarded in Cape Town on Wednesday. Abalobi aims to protect small-scale fishing communities and nurture their ocean stewardship while arming their customers with better information about where their seafood comes from. Abalobi works with small fishing communities to record their catch data and to ensure improved livelihood. During the visit to Kalk Bay, Earthshot Prize founding partner Conservation International announced a $250 000 flexible finance investment in Abalobi's Fisher-to-Marketplace programme. This working capital will enable Abalobi to build an inventory of green-listed fish species to meet new export demands, helping small-scale fishers expand their reach to more customers.