Sustainable fisheries will be a major focus of the 11th Our Ocean Conference (OOC11) in Kenya this June (16–18). At a moment when global demand for seafood is rising and marine ecosystems are under mounting pressure, the conversation is no longer just about how much we catch, but how we fish, who benefits, and whether ocean resources are sustainably managed to feed future generations.
Sustainable fisheries sit at the intersection of food security, economic development, and ocean health. Today, marine foods provide at least 20% of animal protein for 3.2 billion people worldwide, making fisheries indispensable to global nutrition. Beyond food, they underpin livelihoods, cultural identity, and coastal economies, particularly in developing regions and island states.
The scale of the sector is immense. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)’s latest data, global fisheries and aquaculture production reached a record 223.2 million tonnes in 2022. Notably, aquaculture has now surpassed capture fisheries, producing 51% of aquatic protein products globally and nearly 57% of those destined for human consumption. Meanwhile, marine capture fisheries still delivered 79.7 million tonnes, underscoring their continued importance.
Yet beneath this growth lies a more complex reality.
Small-scale fisheries, often overlooked in global policy debates, account for 40% of the global catch and support 90% of the capture fisheries workforce. The FAO estimates that women make up around 40% of the small-scale fisheries workforce when post-harvest activities such as processing and trading are included, highlighting the sector’s critical social dimension. Sustainability is therefore as much a question of equity and economic resilience as it is of environmental protection.
At the same time, pressure on marine ecosystems is intensifying. Only 64.5% of stocks were fished within biologically sustainable levels, while 35.5% are now overfished, a figure that continues to rise annually. The situation is even more concerning in deep-sea environments, home to especially vulnerable long-lived species, where just 29% of stocks are sustainably fished.
Fortunately, there are signs that effective management works. Tuna stocks offer a compelling example: 87% are now considered sustainable, thanks largely to coordinated international action through regional fisheries management organizations. This success story demonstrates that science-based governance and cooperation can reverse decline.
Rebuilding overfished stocks could increase global fisheries production by 16.5 million tonnes annually and generate an additional $32 billion in revenue, while strengthening food security and coastal livelihoods.
However, major challenges remain.
Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing continues to undermine progress, accounting for an estimated 11–19% of global catch and costing up to $50 billion annually. In Africa alone, losses are estimated at $11–13 billion each year, directly impacting food systems and economic stability.
Subsidies further complicate the picture. Governments spend around $22 billion annually on subsidies that often encourage overfishing, particularly by industrial fleets. The entry into force of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies in September 2025 marks a critical milestone to address these perverse incentives, by prohibiting harmful subsidies linked to IUU fishing and overexploited stocks. Its effective implementation will be essential.
At the regional level, the Western Indian Ocean is a vital fisheries hub, producing approximately 5.5 million tonnes of landings annually. Around 63% of assessed stocks are within sustainable levels, suggesting both progress and room for improvement.
In Kenya, fisheries are central to livelihoods and food security. The sector employs over 60,000 fishers directly and supports 1.2 million people across the value chain. Importantly, 80% of domestic production comes from small-scale artisanal fishers, reinforcing the need for inclusive policies that protect and support the livelihoods of those most dependent on marine resources.
As OOC11 convenes in Africa for the first time, it brings a critical opportunity to align global ambition with local realities. Discussions will focus on tackling IUU fishing, advancing science-based management, reducing harmful subsidies, and strengthening the role of small-scale fishers, especially in regions where fisheries are both an economic backbone and a lifeline.
Ultimately, the future of fisheries will depend on our ability to balance use with stewardship. Reducing waste, currently 15% of total catch, leveraging new technologies for transparency, and expanding certification systems can all play a role.
As the global community gathers in Kenya this June, OOC11 offers a moment to align ambition with the investment in food security, livelihoods and ocean health.
Photo by Evans Dims on Unsplash
