Local entrepreneurs work to advance sustainable ocean economy

A group of ocean innovators and entrepreneurs from across the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) recently completed a two-day workshop in Pohnpei designed to support the development of sustainable businesses and projects.

The Blue Prosperity Entrepreneur Fellowship Workshop, a collaboration between Blue Prosperity Micronesia and the Sustainable Ocean Alliance, brought together local innovators committed to advancing the nation's blue economy. Through presentations and small group discussions, participants learned about grant funding opportunities, business development, environmental management strategies, and social impact from expert speakers representing  the FSM Development Bank, Micronesia Conservation Trust and UN Human Rights Council.

Pictured left to right: Marlin Lee Ling, Pohnpei Surf Club; Mary Jane Banal, Pearcylita Cubacub and Principal Russell Figueras, Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School; Douglas Kusto; Yamado Melander; and Krystle Melander.

The inaugural cohort of fellows from Kosrae, Chuuk and Pohnpei is developing aquaculture, sustainable tourism, and food systems projects with support from local and international mentors.

Krystle Melander, a Kosrae native and co-owner of a local mangrove crab business, is developing a sustainable aquaculture system to implement dual farming of Kosraean mud crabs and srohsrohl. She stated, "the Fellowship has helped with the financial support to start my project and it helped connect me to other experts in the field."

Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School is launching a student-driven initiative to teach entrepreneurial skills to high schoolers. Led by teachers Pearcylita Cubacub and Mary Jane Banal as well as principal Russell Figueras, student clubs will perform biweekly recycling collections of waste they can upcycle into products that can be sold. Reflecting upon the workshop, Principal Russell Figueras valued learning about "grant opportunities for our current and future projects. We were able to learn marketing and advertising strategies."

Carlos (Douglas) Kusto, from Pohnpei, is leading the Awak Pah Community's clam farming initiative to generate community income and promote food security. Kusto stated, "this workshop has been instrumental in helping me learn about funding and technical assistance opportunities."

Allois Malfitani, founder of Pohnpei Surf Club, is developing a campaign promoting responsible tourism with support from the fellowship. Pohnpei Surf Club employee, Marlin Lee Ling, appreciated gaining "the perspective and business mindset from different industries."

Yamado Melander, a Kosrae State Senator and Utwe Municipal Government member, is leading an effort to restore depleted clam populations and improve coastal water quality in Utwe, Kosrae. He stated, “Networking through this fellowship program is wonderful. I've met others that share similar issues and challenges and it's great to see the methods used to address these issues."

Jason Reiong, a Sapuk native with a background in education and community engagement, is leading an effort to restore declining sea cucumber populations in Weno, Chuuk. To address overharvesting driven by demand from Asian markets and local communities, the project will establish a sea cucumber farm to support species conservation and reef health.

As these entrepreneurs continue to develop and scale their projects, the Blue Prosperity Entrepreneur Fellowship remains at the forefront of supporting sustainable ocean economic development in the FSM. 

Learn more about the Blue Prosperity Entrepreneur Fellowship at www.blueprosperitymicronesia.org/fellowship.