Catalyst Now Fund

The Coral Triangle—spanning Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste—is the world's epicenter of marine biodiversity, supporting 120+ million people dependent on marine resources. It also faces converging threats: Climate impacts: Coral bleaching events now occurring every 6 years (down from 25-30 years) Overfishing: 95% of reefs affected in some areas; fish stocks declining Plastic pollution: Indonesia, Philippines, and Malaysia among world's top contributors Poverty: Millions dependent on declining marine resources with few alternatives The Opportunity Despite these challenges, the region offers unique potential for regenerative ocean farming: Seaweed cultivation can restore ocean ecosystems while creating income Community-based management has proven more effective than top-down approaches Traditional knowledge systems offer invaluable insights for sustainable practices Growing markets for sustainable ocean products (food, cosmetics, bioplastics, carbon credits) Why Many Projects Have Failed Common failures: Imposed solutions that don't fit local context or needs Skipped foundation/systems work: No community buy-in, weak governance, no baseline data Rushed implementation of solutions without understanding local dynamics Ignored traditional knowledge and existing community structures Extractive approach treating communities as recipients rather than co-creators Why Our Approach Works Success requires patient investment in the "messy systems glue" of systems change: Building trust and relationships Understanding local context deeply Co-creating solutions with communities Establishing legitimate governance structures Collecting rigorous baseline data Developing aligned partnerships This foundation work can't be rushed, but it's essential for long-term success. The Ask: $1.5 million total to fund 3 POC Collaborative Solutions Labs across different Coral Triangle countries, each receiving $500k over 18 months to establish the foundation for scalable, replicable, community-led ocean regeneration. Why This Is a Smart Investment For Ocean Conservation: Community-led approaches have higher success rates and sustainability than top-down conservation. This builds models that can scale. For Livelihoods: Regenerative ocean farming can provide viable alternatives to destructive fishing while restoring ecosystems—a true win-win. For Climate: Ocean farming sequesters carbon, reduces land-based agriculture pressure, and builds community resilience to climate impacts. For Systems Change: Rather than isolated projects, this builds an interconnected ecosystem of communities, organizations, and knowledge that can drive regional transformation. For Knowledge: The replication toolkits and learning documentation will benefit the entire field of ocean conservation and regenerative farming.