Fresh fish
The MDG-F worked with a fish-producing cooperative in the coastal province of Esmeraldas to boost social and economic development by improving local fishermen’s capacity to manage, produce and market fish. The cooperative built a hangar that has a cold room, an ice-production facility and an area for cleaning and processing fish.
The fishing is done according to standards established in Ecuador, and the cooperative offers the products at a reduced price to its members and the community. Cooperative members are also trained and hold internships on the fishing and marketing process in nieghboring Chile.
"This is a passion, because we depend on fishing,” says cooperative member Mary Velasco. “We learned the best method to process our seafood. It has meant so much for my family: we have developed both economically and in terms of our knowledge.”