Healthy fish populations are critically important for the overall health of our world ocean. And with over 3 billion people depend on fish for a significant portion of their animal protein, strong, science-based fisheries governance isn’t optional; it is the foundation of food security and ocean health for generations to come.
Meanwhile, one-third of the world’s assessed fisheries are being pushed beyond their biological limits by overfishing (catching fish faster than populations can replenish). Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing accounts for an estimated 20% of the world’s catch, further undermining sustainable fisheries management and fueling overfishing. The consequences of overfishing reverberate across the ocean from declining wildlife populations (don’t forget, fish are wildlife too!) and degraded ecosystems to growing threats to food and economic security.
Globally, work is being done to rebuild sustainable fisheries and combat IUU fishing. For instance, the Mombasa Declaration calls for greater transparency and accountability across the fishing industry. It was launched in 2026 and already adopted by 16 countries. And many countries are implementing the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, prohibiting the payment of subsidies that allow fishing of overfished populations, fishing of unmanaged populations on the high seas, and enable IUU fishing.
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