Our Story
Fish Farm Collaborative is built on a simple belief:
To prevent human trafficking, we must address food insecurity upstream.
Our work focuses on building sustainable aquaponic farms that feed families and strengthen communities around the world. When communities have reliable access to food, they are more stable, more resilient, and less vulnerable to exploitation.
This belief guides everything we do.
Fish Farm Collaborative was founded in 2014 as Fly Fishing Collaborative. In the early years, our community was mobilized through a shared passion for fly fishing. As our work scaled, it became clear that sustainable food systems were the most direct and effective way to create lasting impact. Our name evolved to reflect that focus.
Today, Fish Farm Collaborative builds aquaponic farms in partnership with trusted local organizations. Once a farm is complete, ownership and operations are transferred to local leaders. This approach allows communities to lead their own solutions while Fish Farm Collaborative remains nimble and able to scale globally.
Over the past decade, this model has proven effective across diverse regions and conditions. We have built farms in 11 countries that produce fresh fish and vegetables year-round. These farms provide consistent food access and help reduce vulnerability linked to human trafficking.
Impact at a Glance
14 farms built
11 countries served
More than 100,000 pounds of fish and fresh produce grown annually
What We’ve Learned
Sustainable farming takes time.
Local leadership matters.
Trust is essential.
Building farms in resource-constrained environments requires patience, adaptability, and long-term commitment. Conditions are often unpredictable. Success comes from strong partnerships, shared ownership, and continuous learning.
Our progress has accelerated as we’ve invested deeply in technical expertise and local capacity. Today, our newest farms are producing more food than our earliest projects combined. This growth reflects years of refinement, relationship-building, and strategic investment.
We have learned that real impact does not come from quick fixes. It comes from systems that communities can own, operate, and sustain.
Looking Ahead, We are just getting started.
Our model is proven.
Our partnerships are ready.
Our next chapter is focused on scale, depth, and durability.
Fish Farm Collaborative is currently in a three-year, $2.5 million capital campaign to expand sustainable food systems and strengthen our global partnerships. This investment supports long-term infrastructure, technical capacity, and organizational resilience so we can meet growing demand without compromising our values.
Through our sister platform, Fish Well. Do Good., we continue to mobilize the fly-fishing community to support this mission through storytelling, engagement, and awareness. This platform builds connection and momentum while Fish Farm Collaborative remains focused on program delivery and impact.
The next decade is about going upstream more effectively.
Feeding more families.
Strengthening more communities.
Preventing human trafficking before it starts.
Join the Work
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Every dollar supports sustainable food solutions upstream.
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What’s Next?
We’re just getting started.
Farms are ready to scale. Foster kids are waiting for fishing camps. Global partners are standing by to launch in their regions. The next decade is about depth, scale, and shared ownership.
At our ten-year mark, we took time to reflect. What’s working? What needs to grow? And how do we build something that lasts?
We’ve helped our global partners build sustainable systems. Now we are doing the same for FFC by strengthening our foundation, expanding earned income, and reducing dependence on a small group of donors. This ensures long-term impact and stability.
To fuel this vision, we are currently in a three-year capital campaign to raise $2.5 million—expanding farms, mentoring foster youth, and empowering global partners.
This includes launching the Fish Well. Do Good. platform this fall and partnering with Fly Fusion Magazine on their Trout Tour, which will feature Fish Well. Do Good. in cities across the country. The tour was just picked up by Orvis and will now be shown in more than 50 of their stores nationwide.
If you want to help scale this vision, we are hosting small gatherings across the country to share what’s ahead and invite people into the story.
The next ten years can be even more transformative than the first.
We would love to build it with you.
Be Part Of The Solution to Stop Trafficking Before It Starts
Give once. Give monthly.
Every dollar fights upstream.