OECD work in support of a sustainable ocean
Better policies are needed to make fisheries and aquaculture production more sustainable and the millions of people who depend on them for food and jobs more resilient, particularly in the context of climate change.
Sustainable and resilient fisheries and aquaculture
generate billions more in benefits if they were better managed. Governments are increasingly aware of the shortcomings of fisheries and aquaculture management frameworks, and that smarter regulations and new technologies are needed to improve sustainability and productivity. However, achieving reform in fisheries and aquaculture policy can be difficult, as a broad range of interests are at stake and it is often difficult and
Fisheries are fundamental to feeding the global population, and
expensive to collect data on marine resources and ecosystems.
creating jobs and resilience in coastal communities. However,
Through the biannual Review of Fisheries, the OECD helps
to achieve these socio-economic goals while preserving
governments establish good policies and governance. This can
biodiversity and the provision of the ecosystem services on
help achieve environmentally sound fisheries and sustainable
which the “blue economy” relies, fish stocks must be managed
aquaculture that support resilient communities, provide
sustainably. Following the widespread expansion of aquaculture
quality food and secure livelihoods. Our work contributes to a
production – particularly in Asia – nearly 60 million people
more robust evidence base for policy making and promotes a
work in the sector today, almost twice as many as in the early
dialogue among and between authorities in charge of fisheries
1990s. Over the last two decades, total seafood output value
and aquaculture policies in OECD member countries and
in the OECD has increased by about a third, predominantly
beyond.
driven by strong growth in the value of aquaculture. Over the same period, the volume of wild fish harvests fell by about
The OECD also produced more focused reports targeting
30% because of declining stocks and fishing policies aimed at
fisheries policy reform. For example, Encouraging policy change
exploiting them more sustainably.
for sustainable and resilient fisheries examines how to enable policy reforms in difficult contexts and find a successful
However, climate change, overfishing and pollution are placing
pathway to reform through improved governance, stakeholder
global fisheries under increasing pressure. Indeed, of the 1,119
consultation, and mobilisation of scientific evidence and
stocks reported on in the OECD Review of Fisheries 2020, 254
analysis.
(23%) were in an unacceptable status with regards to biological sustainability, calling for remedial action. Global fisheries could
26 . OECD WORK IN SUPPORT OF A SUSTAINABLE OCEAN
