Rare’s Coastal 500 to Expand Membership This 2026

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Leo Jasper Candido, municipal mayor of Quinapondan in Eastern Samar, recalls the day two brothers went fishing during a storm. “They knew the risks, but they had to put food on the table,” says Candido. The sea was steady at first, but the weather continued to worsen.

“One brother came back,” says Candido. “The other was taken by the sea.”

For Candido, this tragedy is a stark reminder of a systemic crisis. Across the Philippines, a third of all fishers live below the poverty line, regularly gambling their lives against unpredictable seas just to provide for their families. It is ironic that the very people who provide food for others often end up hungry.

The incident left Candido shaken but determined.

“I decided to protect our fishers on several fronts,” he shares. This is particularly difficult when livelihoods depend on the sea, so fishers were reluctant to stay grounded even when typhoons approached. In response, mayor Candido provided their families with support to ensure no one went hungry, while providing registered fishers with insurance policies. “Our hope is that even if a breadwinner can no longer provide, his or her family will still survive.”

The young mayor is not just setting up safety nets. He’s building systems to empower both men and women with sustainable livelihood opportunities, boosting family incomes and providing a way out of poverty. Candido is among the newest members of Coastal 500, the world’s largest global network of mayors and local government leaders working to build resilient and prosperous coastal communities.

Funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Swedish Postcode Lottery, the Rumah Group and the Djinda Foundation, Coastal 500 is supported by international conservation organization Rare and was established on World Oceans Day in June 2021 – exactly five years ago.

The network finally surpassed its titular 500-member milestone this year. Current members hail from eight coastal nations – Brazil, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Micronesia, Mozambique, Palau and the Philippines – which proudly hosts nearly 100 of these local leaders.

“Coastal 500 flips the script,” explains Rocky Sanchez-Tirona, managing director for regional programs at Rare. “It shifts the heavy lifting of coastal management away from distant national offices and places it squarely in the hands of the communities who literally live and die by how their marine resources are managed.”

Five years running, the network now anchors over 2000 coastal communities and helps secure food for nearly four million people.

Founded in 1973 and active in 60 countries, Rare sets itself apart from other conservation organizations by focusing on the human side of conservation. Rather than just protecting reefs and coasts, Rare uses behavioral science and social marketing to empower local leaders, fishers, marginalized groups and other stakeholders to manage their home waters.

“There are thousands of mayors and leaders like me,” says Greman Solante, municipal mayor of Tudela in Cebu. “If we work together and inspire each other, we can accomplish so much.”

As members of Coastal 500, mayors or other local leaders sign a public pledge, committing to lead, support, and sustain healthy and sustainable fishing communities. The pledge reflects a shared commitment to learning, collaborating, and leading to build thriving coastal communities. Today, the network has become a critical forum to exchange experiences, technologies, and best practices.

“The solution to challenges we’re facing in our coastal communities might already have been perfected by a mayor across the sea,” says Mary Jean Te, former mayor and now vice-mayor of Libertad in Antique. “I have since met many people and traveled the world not just to bring fresh ideas back to Libertad, but to share systems we have mastered, like the digitization of government processes via mobile apps. At Coastal 500, we’re all influencers on a global stage.”

In 2023, Coastal 500 was selected by the United Kingdom’s Prince William as one of 15 global finalists for the prestigious Earthshot Prize, in recognition of the network’s easily scalable, community-championed solutions to coastal management.

“The beauty of Coastal 500 is the quality of its quantity,” adds Alfredo Coro II, municipal mayor of Del Carmen in Siargao. Coro was among the pioneering members of Coastal 500 and was vital in shaping it. “One of the things I pushed for was to look beyond just fish stocks and fish yields and into the humanity, the actual well-being of fishers.”

Coastal 500 is entering its next phase of growth by expanding its presence across more geographies while engaging local leaders beyond Rare’s existing areas of engagement.

“We’re looking for committed local champions for our coasts,” concludes Guelina Verduz, who manages Rare’s Coastal 500 network in the Philippines. “Great leaders can certainly make waves, but a network moving as one body can turn the tide in favor of vibrant and productive seas. Join us today by learning about Coastal 500 or by emailing info@coastal500.org.” (ENDS)