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With a Key Food Source at Risk, Big Funders Back a Different Kind of Fishing Contest

Fish is one of the healthiest foods—high in protein and vitamin D. Cold, deep-water fish like Pacific salmon have omega 3 fatty acids, the same compounds that keep fish blood circulating, which keep our own blood flowing too, lowering the risk of heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure. Unfortunately, increasing world demand has led to overfishing in 40 percent of the world’s fisheries, resulting in more than $50 billion in global economic losses per year. Worse, the trend poses a profound threat to human food sources. 

Many funders are on this case, including some of the biggest U.S. foundations. And more keep joining the battle. Last year, for example, Bloomberg Philanthropies jumped into this field with a $53 million initiative. Saving fisheries is hot, and we’ve been covering funders who are tackling this challenge in creative new ways.

One initiative that caught our eye is a unique investor/foundation-sponsored business competition called Fish 2.0 that seeks to grow the sustainable seafood business. Several heavyweight funders are lined up behind this effort, including the Packard Foundation, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the Walton Family Foundation

Read the full article here.

 

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