Addressing the Problem of Scale in Conservation

Abstract

While examining innovation in the ocean conservation space, we asked our- selves a difficult question: why hasn’t the circle hook—a novel, conservation- friendly improvement on fishing gear—achieved scale? This is an important and relevant question in the development field, where we constantly seek to improve the livelihoods of more individuals within a greater geographic range, using our funding as efficiently as possible. Scaling innovations is a critical piece of improving reach and impact, yet it is a notion that hasn’t been exam- ined much in the conservation field. As we investigated the circle hook case and its scaling problem, we learned, as we frequently do, that it’s complicated.