Net Gains Alliance

The challenge of sustainably managing global fisheries demands robust, science-based processes for comprehensive and effective oversight, but legacy systems, a lack of data standardization, manual data collection with its inherent inaccuracies, and grass roots resistance to expanded data collection often thwart efforts to modernize fisheries data management systems.

With support from our funders and advisors, Council Fire has and continues to lead the overall NGA effort with:

• Issue analyses to identify areas of opportunity and collaboration.

• Visioning and mapping an agenda to assist the regulatory agency in becoming data-driven.

• Communications strategy and outreach around reputation development and need articulation.

• Films and other creative assets articulating the need for modern data collection, management and sharing featuring a wide array of stakeholders.

• Planning and execution of educational webinars to engage the diverse array of communities around the benefits of data modernization.

• Industry thought leader engagement through focused scoping efforts.

• Supporting pilot projects to help overcome key data modernization challenges.

• Grant-making consultation positioning the organization to secure resources.

Since 2016, and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Council Fire has worked with Net Gains Alliance advancing policy initiatives and building greater alignment among historically fractious stakeholders.

Successes include:

• Approximately $2 million in grant funding secured towards data modernization objectives at the local, regional and national levels.

• An array of initiatives are underway to create and communicate data collection and management tools, industry best practices, educational coalitions, and legislative policy.

• Built strong coalition representing diverse voices including industry thought leaders, managers, executives, regulators and worker representation.

• Positioned the organization to serve as the independent, trusted convener and thought-partner on data modernization in the industry.

• Successfully communicating industry-wide impacts and benefits associated with data sharing.