A Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency: A framework for collaboration, justice, and sustainability
Fish are among the planet’s most important natural resources, yet they face increasing pressure from human activities, threatening not only the health of marine ecosystems, but the livelihoods and food security of those who depend on global fisheries. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that, as of 2021, approximately 37.7% of global fish populations are fished at biologically unsustainable levels.
Several factors contribute to overfishing, including inadequate laws, weak enforcement, and lack of political will. However, one of the most significant causes is the lack of transparency in fisheries. Transparency, in this report, means the open and accessible sharing of information about vessels, fishing activity, and fisheries governance and management decisions. The opacity allows illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing to thrive, presents open and informed dialogue among fisheries stakeholders – such as governments, fishing communities industry, civil society, consumers – and complicates efforts to tackle other underlying issues within the sector.
Commissioned by the Coalition, this report elaborates on the ten Principles of the Global Charter, outlining the context of each, providing practical recommendations for action by governments and CSOs, as well as showcasing real-world examples and their applications. While ultimately intended for adoption and implementation by governments, the Global Charter can help guide and empower CSOs to catalyze change by making their messaging and engagement with governments on fisheries transparency and accountability more collaborative, uniform, and powerful.