North American Marine Alliance (NAMA)

NAMA is a fishermen-led organization building a broad movement toward healthy fisheries and fishing communities.

We build deep and trusting relationships with community based fishermen, crew, fishworkers and allies to create effective policy and market strategies.

We see a future where a powerful network of community-based fishermen, crew, fishworkers, and their allies are organized effectively toward a future where:

• Marine ecosystems are protected from industrialization, privatization, and over-exploitation.
• Vibrant and viable fishing communities are thriving and supporting community-based fishermen.
• Fishermen are economically empowered as the compensation for their catch is meeting their true cost of operations.
• Scale of fishing operations, and the gear used to fish – both commercial and recreational – match the scale of the ecosystem in which fishing occurs.
• Diversity of species that reflect fishermen’s true catch is embraced by eaters.
• Fishworkers and crew along the seafood value chain are paid fairly, have safe working conditions free of threats, racism and intimidation, and have a voice in the workplace.
• Fishermen’s catch feeds their local and regional food systems first before entering the global market.
• Transparent, participatory, and localized decision-making processes are in place to govern and manage fisheries.
• Scientific research genuinely includes community-based fishermen.
• People of all races, incomes, cultural backgrounds, and ethnicities can afford food from the ocean.