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Application Deadline: January 31st, 2014
Our oceans are being plundered. Overfishing has become one of the most intractable and widespread problems in the natural world. To save this precious ecosystem, a global shift towards sustainable fishing practices is necessary. But if anything is going to truly change, experts say China must play a part.
China is the world’s largest consumer and producer of seafood products, with its practices substantially impacting global fisheries management and ocean health far from its own shores, from West Africa to the Western Pacific. While some markets are moving toward more responsibly sourced seafood, it’s unclear whether this shift is taking place in China. This Special Reporting Initiative (SRI) will ask: is there a market for sustainable seafood in China?
Potential questions:
- Do growing concerns over food safety and health in China extend to seafood products?
- Is there public recognition that fish are overharvested and increasingly scarce?
- Is there awareness that plundering fish overseas is a short-term response to demand and not a sustainable solution?
- Is there any push toward sustainable seafood at a consumer level in China?
- If so, what are these initiatives?
- If not, what are the levers for driving demand towards more sustainable seafood in China?
- Is market transformation for sustainable seafood possible in China?
Your proposal will be evaluated based on the originality of your idea and your ability to write and publish a robust series of interesting and engaging journalistic reporting. Applications must be submitted in English. Mongabay.org will commit up to $20,000 to fund the top proposal: $15,000 as a stipend and up to $5,000 for reporting and travel costs. You will have three months for travel and research and three months for writing. You can work from anywhere in the world.
HOW TO APPLY: Visit our Apply page