FAO: 64.5% of global stocks are sustainably fished, but overfishing persists without management

FAO’s most detailed fishery review shows positive trends and regional gaps

A landmark FAO report finds that nearly two-thirds of global marine fish stocks are sustainably fished, but widening regional disparities and rising overfishing highlight the urgent need to scale up effective, science-based fisheries management.

Released at the UN Ocean Conference, the Review of the State of World Marine Fishery Resources 2025 evaluates 2,570 individual stocks – the largest number ever reviewed in an FAO report – and outlines both progress and ongoing challenges. It offers the most comprehensive global assessment of marine fish stocks to date, showing that nearly two-thirds are fished within biologically sustainable levels.

“We now have the clearest picture ever of the state of marine fisheries,” said Qu Dongyu, Director-General of FAO. “The evidence shows what works and where we are falling short.”

Drawing on input from over 650 experts across 200 institutions in 90 countries, the assessment analyzes trends across all FAO marine fishing areas. While 64.5 percent of fishery stocks are sustainably fished, 35.5 percent are overfished. When weighted by production, 77.2 percent of global marine fish landings come from stocks considered biologically sustainable.

“Effective management remains the most powerful tool for conserving fisheries resources. This review provides an unprecedentedly comprehensive understanding, enabling more informed decision-making based on data,” said Dongyu. “This report gives governments the evidence they need to shape policy and coordinate coherently.”

The report finds that regions with strong, long-term fisheries management have higher sustainability rates. In the Northeast and Southwest Pacific, 92.7 percent and 85 percent of assessed stocks are fished within sustainable limits. In the Antarctic, assessed for the first time, 100 percent of stocks are fished sustainably, providing a model for ecosystem-based management and international cooperation.

“Positive outcomes like the Antarctic, Northeast Pacific and Southwest Pacific reflect the benefit for sustainable fishery management of having strong institutions, consistent and comprehensive monitoring, the integration of scientific evidence into management decisions and the implementation of precautionary and ecosystem-based approaches,” said David Agnew, executive secretary of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, who contributed to the review.

The Mediterranean and Black Sea show early signs of recovery. While only 35.1 percent of stocks are sustainably fished, fishing pressure has declined by 30 percent and biomass has increased by 15 percent since 2013 – indicating that regional and national efforts are starting to yield results.

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Among the 10 most landed marine species, 60 percent of assessed stocks are considered sustainable, accounting for 85.8 percent of total landings. Tuna and tuna-like species stand out, with 87 percent of stocks sustainable and 99 percent of landings coming from those stocks, reflecting the impact of science-based management and enforcement.

Challenges remain: The global share of overfished stocks has grown by about 1 percent annually, and stark disparities persist between well-managed and underperforming regions.

In the Southeast Pacific and Eastern Central Atlantic, only 46 and 47.4 percent of stocks are sustainably fished – well below the global average. These areas, heavily reliant on small-scale and artisanal fisheries, face limited capacity, weak governance and data gaps that hinder effective management.

At the species level, only 29 percent of deep-sea stocks are sustainably fished. The report also flags concerns over highly migratory sharks, often caught as bycatch in tuna fisheries, where inconsistent international management continues to hamper recovery.

Despite progress in data coverage, critical gaps remain, especially in small-scale fisheries, where limited monitoring at landing sites adds uncertainty to stock assessments. FAO urges countries to strengthen data systems, adopt science-based management and build institutional capacity to align fisheries with sustainability goals.

“The next step is clear: governments must scale up what works and act with urgency to ensure marine fisheries deliver for people and planet,” said Dongyu. “This is the essence of FAO’s Blue Transformation, a call to build more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable aquatic food systems to increase their contribution to global food security, meet nutrition requirements and improve livelihoods of a growing population.”

Read the full report.