Prevent Overfishing Through Robust Fisheries Management

Internationally managed fisheries, like those for tuna and squid, generate billions of dollars each year and play a vital role in food security and the global economy. But they also impact marine ecosystems and species that are important components in natural food webs. Collectively, hundreds of species in more than 90% of the ocean are managed by regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs), which include, among their members, over half of the world’s governments. Historically, these bodies put short-term profit over the long-term health of ecosystems. However, that’s beginning to change in large part due to a shift toward precautionary management.

This transition starts with the adoption of harvest strategies, also known as management procedures. With harvest strategies, managers set long-term objectives for a fishery and use science-based measures, rather than political negotiation, to set fishing levels based on the health of the fish population. This method keeps fisheries stable by accounting for external factors, such as environmental conditions or even climate change. This means as waters warm, or fish stocks shift, there shouldn’t be additional pressure on a population from too much fishing.

But science-based management measures cannot be effective if governments and their fishing fleets don’t follow them. RFMOs must complement their efforts to end overfishing with steps to enhance compliance. This can be done through improvements to how RFMOs hold their members accountable, including through enhanced monitoring of fishing activity.

The Pew Charitable Trusts is working across many RFMOs to end and prevent overfishing and to ensure that science-based, enforceable rules are adopted and implemented for all of the species they manage.