Context:

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has released its 2025 edition of the Review of the State of World Marine Fishery Resources at the United Nations Ocean Conference 3 (UNOC3) in Nice, France.

·        This biennial report presents a comprehensive global analysis of the health and sustainability of marine fish stocks, drawing on contributions from over 600 experts, 200 institutions, and 90 countries.

Key Findings:

Global Fish Stock Status

• 64.5% of global fishery stocks are within biologically sustainable levels.
• 35.5% are overfished, meaning fish are being harvested at rates that risk depleting populations.
• FAO defines a stock as overfished if its biomass is below 80% of the level that supports maximum sustainable yield (MSY) — the highest catch that can be maintained over time without reducing the stock.

Deep-Sea Species: 

• Only 29% of deep-sea fish stocks are sustainably fished.
• These species face unique biological challenges:
• Late maturation
• Slow growth
• Long life expectancy
• Low natural mortality
• Infrequent spawning
• These characteristics make deep-sea species highly vulnerable to overexploitation and slow to recover.

Shark Fisheries at Risk

• Over half of highly migratory shark stocks are unsustainably fished.
• Of 23 assessed shark stocks across seven species:
• 43.5% are overfished.
• Sharks are frequently caught as bycatch in tuna fisheries.
• The highest annual shark catches are found in:
• Western Central Pacific
• Eastern Indian Ocean
• Western Indian Ocean
• Sharks and rays are particularly prone to overexploitation due to biological sensitivity and limited resilience.

Regional Trends in Sustainability

• Northeast and Southwest Pacific: High sustainability due to effective fishery management systems.
• Mediterranean and Black Seas: Only 35.1% of stocks are sustainably fished.
• Southeastern Pacific: Sustainability stands at 46.4%.
• Eastern Indian Ocean: An estimated 72.7% of stocks are sustainable, but the data is limited and may exclude vulnerable species.

Role of Management Systems:

• Regions with strong management frameworks show better stock sustainability.
• Tuna stocks in the high seas perform well, with 87% of assessed stocks considered sustainable.
• Success attributed to Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) that ensure:
• Robust data collection
• Onboard monitoring systems
• Accurate landing records
• Enforced compliance mechanisms

High Seas and Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ):

• High seas include waters beyond exclusive economic zones and continental shelves.
• These areas are managed either directly by states or through RFMOs.
• RFMOs play a key role in managing migratory and shared stocks across borders.

Importance of Data and Governance

• Some regions remain data-deficient, limiting accurate assessment of fishery health.
• The report stresses the need for precautionary approaches where data is scarce.
• Effective management remains the most powerful tool for conserving marine resources.

Conclusion

The 2025 FAO report serves as a crucial benchmark for assessing the global state of marine fisheries. It highlights both progress and persistent challenges. While many regions have made advances through science-based and cooperative management, others continue to struggle due to biological sensitivity of species, overfishing pressures, and data gaps. Strengthening global and regional fisheries governance is essential for ensuring long-term sustainability of marine ecosystems.