Page 29 - AWA Vol.41-No.6 2025

FISHERIES AND FISH FARMING

FAO releases the most detailed global

assessment of marine fish stocks to date

Some of the world’s marine fisher‑ trade‑offs and tighter constraints.
ies are recovering under strong, sci‑ Species-level results: tuna stands out,
ence‑based management, but many deep-sea species under pressure
others remain under pressure, accord‑ Among the 10 most landed marine
ing to a report launched today at the species, including anchoveta, Alaska
UN Ocean Conference by the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United pollock, skipjack tuna, and Atlantic
herring, 60 percent of assessed stocks
Nations (FAO). It shows just how far are sustainable. When weighted by
effective governance can go and how frameworks are paying off. Sustainabil‑ their volume of production, 85.8 per‑
urgently those gains need to be repli‑ ity rates of all individual stocks reach cent of landings are estimated to come
cated. 92.7 percent and 85 percent respec‑ from biologically sustainable stocks.
The Review of the state of world ma‑ tively, and these stocks are responsible Tuna and tuna-like species stand out,
rine fishery resources - 2025 reports for an estimated 99 percent and 95.7 with 87 percent of assessed stocks sus‑
on the biological sustainability of 2 570 percent of the 2021 landings in these tainable, and 99 percent of landings
individual fish stocks, a major increase regions. coming from sustainable sources.
from previous editions of the report. In‑ In the Antarctic (Areas 48, 58, and 88),
formed by over 650 experts from more 100 percent of the stocks assessed are In these areas, a commitment to ef‑
than 200 institutions and over 90 coun‑ fished sustainably. This is the first time fective fisheries management – the
tries, this participatory and inclusive this region has been included in this re‑ application of science‑based policies,
report analyzes trends across all FAO port, and while small in volume these regulatory measures, and compliance
marine fishing areas and offers the fisheries demonstrate what is possible systems – has ensured the sustainabil‑
clearest picture to date of how global with ecosystem‑based management ity of marine fisheries and the benefits
marine fisheries are faring. and international cooperation. they provide.
The report confirms that 64.5 per‑ “Positive outcomes like the Antarctic, But not all species are doing as well.
cent of all fishery stocks are exploited Northeast Pacific, and Southwest Pa‑ Deep‑sea species remain vulnerable,
within biologically sustainable levels, cific reflect the benefit for sustainable with only 29 percent of stocks sustain‑
with 35.5 percent of stocks classified fishery management of having strong ably fished. The report also flags con‑
as overfished. When weighted by their institutions, consistent and compre‑ cern over highly migratory sharks, of‑
production levels, 77.2 percent of the hensive monitoring, the integration of ten caught as bycatch in tuna fisheries.
fisheries landings globally come from scientific evidence into management While 57 percent of stocks assessed
biologically sustainable stocks. decisions and the implementation of are sustainable, lack of consistent in‑
ternational management continues to
In marine fishing areas under effec‑ precautionary and ecosystem‑based hinder recovery efforts.
tive fisheries management, sustainabil‑ approaches,” said David Agnew, Exec‑
utive Secretary of the Commission for
ity rates far exceed the global average. the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Closing the gaps: turning science into
In the Northeast Pacific, for example, Living Resources, who contributed to action
92.7 percent of stocks are sustainably the review. Despite major advances in data cov‑
fished. erage, gaps persist, especially in
The Mediterranean and the Black Sea
“Effective management remains the (Area 37) show early signs of recovery. small-scale fisheries where insufficient
most powerful tool for conserving Although only 35.1 percent of stocks coverage of landing sites increases
fisheries resources. This review pro‑ are sustainably fished, fishing pressure assessment uncertainties. FAO urges
vides an unprecedentedly compre‑ has dropped 30 percent, and biomass countries to invest in data collection
hensive understanding, enabling more has risen 15 percent since 2013. This and management systems, and sci‑
informed decision-making based on shows that regional cooperation and ence‑based approaches, and to close
data,” said QU Dongyu, Director‑Gen‑ national efforts are starting to make a capacity gaps and align sustainability
eral of FAO. “This report gives govern‑ difference. goals, to keep fisheries on track.
ments the evidence they need to shape “We now have the clearest picture
Not all areas are on track. While some
policy and coordinate coherently.” show real progress, others remain un‑ ever of the state of marine fisheries.
Regional insights: where manage- der intense pressure. The evidence shows what works and
ment works, fish stocks thrive where we are falling short,” Qu said.
In the Southeast Pacific (Area 87), “The next step is clear: governments
Nearly two-thirds of marine stocks are only 46 percent of stocks are sustain‑ must scale up what works and act with
fished within biologically sustainable ably fished, while the Eastern Central urgency to ensure marine fisheries de‑
levels globally and in recent years Atlantic (Area 34) stands at 47.4 per‑ liver for people and planet . This is the
overfishing has been rising by about cent. These regions include countries essence of FAO’s Blue Transformation,
1 percent per year on average. In ad‑ where fisheries are central to food se‑ a call to build more efficient, more in‑
dition, the gap between well‑managed curity and nutrition, employment, and clusive, more resilient and more sus‑
and underperforming areas remains poverty reduction, particularly through tainable aquatic food systems to in‑
stark. small‑scale and artisanal operations. crease their contribution to global food
In the Northeast Pacific (Area 67) and But with limited institutional capacity, security, meet nutrition requirements
Southwest Pacific (Area 81), long-term fragmented governance, and major and improve livelihoods of a growing
investment and robust management data gaps, these areas face steeper population.” Circle 40 on enquiry card
Vol. 41 No. 6 27