• Tambuyog as a dynamic and leading service provider and advocacy center for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture operating from the local to the regional level;
• Organized fishers, composed of men and women, enjoying exclusive use of fishing grounds with optimum yield from the sustainable utilization of capture fisheries and socially and environmentally responsible aquaculture;
• Empowered, prosperous and interdependent coastal communities with options in life
• Socially and environmentally responsible and globally competitive fisheries industry that provides socio economic benefits to Filipinos
• Government that is responsive, accountable, and effective in environmental management and sustainable fisheries industry development with stakeholder participation; and
• Healthy and productive environment

In reformulating its vision, Tambuyog sought to define itself in relation to its principal constituency – small scale fishers and coastal communities – to which it is primarily accountable. Further, it locates itself in a field wherein fishing industry stakeholders and government at various levels are key partners in striving to realize its vision while also affirming its aspiration for a healthy and productive environment.




Lead the advocacy, facilitate mechanisms for and provide services on the enhancement of community property rights, the creation of community-based social enterprises and effective fishery resource governance, integrating gender for the sustainable development of the fishing industry from local up to international level.

Tambuyog sees its mission as that of an advocacy leader, facilitator and service provider on three main areas – institutionalisation of community property rights, development of social enterprises and governance of fisheries resources with gender integration as a cross-cutting concern, all within the context of a sustainable fishing industry.




Integration of fishery resource governance and social enterprise development to increase bargaining power and reduce poverty among small fishers towards the sustainable development of the fishing industry.

The overall goal of the project is to achieve the integration of the main areas crucial for improving the lives of marginalized small scale fishers – governance over fisheries resources and development of fishery social enterprises. This is directly aimed at addressing the basic problems of poverty and resource degradation confronted by the fishing industry in general and small scale fishers in particular.




1. Transformation of fisheries into a viable and sustainable industry with institutions and markets internalizing costs

Efforts to enhance fisheries resource governance will focus on the transforming the fishing industry towards sustainability and long-term economic viability. Specifically, initiative will be aimed at the avoidance and/or mitigation of negative externalities i.e. social and environmental costs caused by unsustainable and inequitable fishing and fish farming practices, many of which are borne by the most vulnerable groups in the industry – small scale fisher men and women.

Key Result Areas:

• Recognition of resource rent corresponding to management and development costs of resources
• Social protection covering labor markets, social insurance programs and fisherfolk settlem
• Adoption of responsible practices in the aquaculture sector in both inland and marine areas
• Access to capital and infrastructure for small scale fishers
• Institutionalized integrated fishery management structures

2. Improved the fisheries management and trade policies at the regional and global level.

Essentially, the thrust of Tambuyog regional and global advocacy can be seen as an extension of its work at the local and national level. Despite substantial differences in specific conditions, the institution sees the main outlines of its analytical and operational framework as applicable to small scale fishers in many parts of the world.

• Adoption of policy frameworks on fisheries management and trade with specific concerns such as community property rights, development of small scale fishery production, foreign investments and climate change
• Formation, expansion and strengthening of small scale fisher networks

3. Establishment of community based social enterprises owned, operated or managed by fishers and their partners

Efforts to reduce poverty among small scale fishers will revolve around the development of fishery-based social enterprises in selected fishing grounds. These social enterprises will be directly in the hands of small scale fishers through organizations, cooperatives and/or corporations that they own, manage and operate in collaboration with their partners.

Key Result Areas:

• Viable community enterprises created in specific fishing grounds
• Increase in household income (involved in social enterprises)
• Strengthen the position of fishers in their right to fishing areas

4. Enhanced participation and entitlements of women in sustainable fisheries development by addressing their gender needs and interests

To address their strategic gender interests and practical gender needs, the project will work towards enhancing the participation and entitlements of women fishers. Increased participation and entitlements is crucial in enabling them to perform their role, as they themselves define, in fisheries resource governance, in developing their communities and in ensuring the welfare of their households.

Key Result Areas:

• Increased capacity of women in advocacy and fisheries resource governance
• Increased access of women in coastal communities to reproductive health services and adult education

5. Development of TDC into an organization with networks that have strong capacity to influence public and private sectors in East and South East Asia The development of Tambuyog as an organization must be commensurate to the scale and scope of the work that it must do to achieve the goals and objectives of its strategic plan. Thus, it needs to build capacity in implementing programs and projects at multiple scales from the local and national to the regional and global levels. It is also important for the institution to develop familiarity and facility in establishing and maintaining productive collaborations with government and the business sector in public – private partnerships (PPPs).

Key Result Areas:

• Developed organizational capacities in terms of appropriate structure, systems, staffing, skills and style
• Increased revenue generated from diversified sources

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