Community Businesses Drive Milne Bay’s Blue Economy

Through its ‘Gutpela Solwara, Gutpela Bisnis Programme’ funded by the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR) and the Joint SDG Fund, UNDP is providing small grants and technical assistance and grants to blue businesses in Papua New Guinea’s Milne Bay Province.

The grants, which are being provided through the Blue Economy Enterprise Incubation Facility that UNDP helped establish in 2024, are being used to strengthen livelihoods, protect marine ecosystems, and build more resilient coastal communities.

From fisheries to eco-tourism, each enterprise reflects a shared goal: creating sustainable income while safeguarding the ocean resources that communities depend on.

On Sideia Island, Bayside Cooperative Society Ltd is demonstrating how simple changes in fishing practices can make a big difference.

Operating as a community-driven cooperative, Bayside supplies fresh fish to local markets, schools, and shops, catching only what has already been ordered. This approach reduces waste and helps prevent overfishing, ensuring fish stocks remain healthy.

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