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Emailby Karen Marvin
The FishNET project, led by Shah Selbe and the Center for Ocean Solutions, has been named a 2011 semi-finalist in the Buckminster Fuller Challenge, the prestigious annual design science competition named "Socially-Responsible Design's Highest Award" by Metropolis Magazine. The Challenge awards $100,000 to support the development and implementation of a systems-based solution that has significant potential to solve humanity’s most pressing problems.
The FishNET project focuses on developing integrated low cost technology solutions that drastically improve our ability to observe and collaborate data about illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing so that action can be taken to stop this destructive, illegal activity. According to Myers and Worm, Nature (2003), a 90% reduction has occurred in oceans apex predators since the 1950s. At the current rate of fishing, world seafood stocks may be unrecoverable by 2048, per a study by Worm et al, Science (2006). FishNET would be a powerful tool for ocean stakeholders to use to fight IUU fishing activities.
The central hub to FishNET is a web-based information system that can capture and analyze official and crowd-sourced data on fishing vessels and exploited areas. This flexible and complementary suite of technologies, increased community participation and the FishNET database can drastically improve our ability to manage our impact on the oceans, shape effective ocean policy, maintain food security and fish sustainably.
“The oceans are at a critical turning point,” says Selbe. “Our ability to reverse the effects of the last 50 years of accelerated industrial fishing and protect the earth’s last great frontier is within our capabilities. We are honored that FishNET was selected as a Buckminster Fuller Challenge semifinalist.”
After an initial rigorous vetting process by BFI’s multi-disciplinary review team, which included an in-depth interview with the design team, FishNET was chosen from a pool of hundreds of entries from over 35 countries to be one of 21 semi-finalists. It is now featured as a top tier project in BFI’s Idea Index and on their website for the remainder of the program cycle.
Semi-finalists will be reviewed and discussed by the 11 distinguished jurors, including Valerie Casey, founder of Design Accord; David Orr, writer and professor of Environmental Studies and Politics at Oberlin College; Andrew Zolli, producer of PopTech and Danielle Nierenberg, Project Director of State of World 2011; and Sim Vanderyn, visionary ecological design pioneer.
Finalists will be announced in May and the winner, runner up and honorable mention will be announced at the conferring ceremony in New York City in early June.
The Buckminster Fuller Challenge is the premier international competition recognizing initiatives that take a comprehensive, anticipatory design approach to radically advance human well-being and the health of our planet’s ecosystems. The 2011 semi-finalists are providing workable solutions to some of the world’s most significant challenges including water scarcity, food supply, health, energy consumption and shelter. The Challenge is a program of The Buckminster Fuller Institute that aims to deeply influence the ascendance of a new generation of design-science pioneers who are leading the creation of an abundant and restorative world economy that benefits all humanity.
For more information visit the Buckminster Fuller Challenge semifinalist page or watch the project video.
