Overview

• The FAO’s Review of the State of World Marine Fishery Resources found 35% of global fish stocks are harvested beyond sustainable levels, while 77% of consumed fish originate from well-managed fisheries.
• Regional disparities are stark, with over half of stocks in northwest Africa and 65% in the Mediterranean classified as unsustainably fished, contrasted with more than 90% sustainability in the northeast Pacific and polar regions.
• Small-scale fishers in places like Tanzania face declining catches, lack of monitoring and quota systems, and limited access to training, highlighting the need for inclusive governance and capacity building.
• Delegates endorsed the FAO’s Blue Transformation initiative to bolster governance, expand responsible aquaculture and deploy digital traceability to curb illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
• Negotiators are drafting a political declaration under the Nice Ocean Action Plan to align national policies with Sustainable Development Goal 14 and address the estimated $175 billion annual financing gap for fisheries reform.