Supporting Sustainable Fishing in Colombia: Ardis Hidalgo’s Story

For 36 years, fishing has been at the centre of Ardis Hidalgo’s life.

Living in Manaure, in Colombia’s La Guajira region, Ardis is one of many small-scale fishermen whose families depend on the sea for their livelihoods. But changing conditions and declining fish stocks mean fishermen increasingly need to travel farther from shore to find a good catch.

“The hardest part of the job used to be the gas, especially when the fishing wasn’t very good. What we caught wasn’t enough to cover the cost of fuel,” says Ardis.

Finding practical solutions with local communities

GOAL team is working alongside fishing communities in La Guajira to strengthen livelihoods and identify practical solutions to the challenges they face.

As part of this work, fishermen like Ardis are transitioning to gas-powered boat engines, reducing operating costs while supporting more sustainable fishing practices.

For Ardis, the change has already made a significant difference.

“Now, with the gas engine, we’ve cut costs. We’re saving 50% on gasoline.”

Lower fuel costs mean fishermen can retain more of the income they earn from their catch, helping families strengthen their economic resilience at a time when fishing is becoming increasingly challenging.

The transition also has environmental benefits, helping to reduce emissions and lessen the impact of fishing activities on the marine environment.

“Switching to gas as fuel benefits the ocean greatly and helps the environment,” says Ardis.

Supporting more resilient coastal communities

For fishing communities in La Guajira, protecting livelihoods and protecting the environment go hand in hand. By combining local knowledge with practical innovation, GOAL and its partners are helping families adapt to changing conditions while safeguarding the natural resources they depend on.

“We’ve seen progress in terms of fishing operation costs, and it has been very helpful. I’m very grateful to GOAL and would like to thank GOAL for always keeping us in mind throughout this process,” says Ardis.

This work is part of the GOAL Programme Innovation Lab and GOAL’s wider Resilience of the Blue Economy programme. With support from Irish Aid through Ireland’s Civil Society Partnership (ICSP), and in collaboration with Colgas Innovation Lab and Entre Amigos, GOAL is helping to strengthen the artisanal fishery system in La Guajira, on Colombia’s Caribbean coast.