Fish populations are in a far worse state than previously estimated, according to Minderoo Foundation’s Global Fishing Index (GFI), the most extensive independent assessment of global fish stocks to date.

The report finds that a tenth of fish stocks globally are now on the brink of collapse, reduced to just 10% of their original size. 

Dr. Andrew Forrest, chairman of the Minderoo Foundation, says no country is doing “anywher near enough” to protect the ocean from overfishing and restore its health.

“Our Global Fishing Index is a wake-up call to governments and businesses around the world,” says Forrest. 

“It is time to take accountability for the health of your fisheries, the size of your fishing fleets and the level of access provided to foreign fleets to fish your waters.”

“Every single country in this index needs stronger fisheries management, better laws and policies, better enforcement, better data collection, more science-based decisions,” urges Forrest.

The foundation calls for time-bound targets to be set to aid in restoring fish stocks to healthy levels.

Grades assigned to offenders
The study involving more than 500 fisheries experts globally shows that half of the world’s 1,400 assessed fish stocks are now overfished.

The assessment shows that 49% of fish stocks are overfished, up significantly from the previous global estimate of 34%. Data indicating whether or not stocks are sustainably fished have not been updated since 1990.  

The assessment of marine fisheries’ environmental sustainability in 142 coastal states combines data on fish stock health and governance to assess the state of fishing at a national level. Countries are given a grade from A to F, ranking best to worst. Best-performing countries receive no higher than a C grade.The foundation attributes the lack of fisheries monitoring to the problem, among others.

Twenty out of 25 of the largest seafood producers, including China, Indonesia, Japan, Peru and Russia, were assigned a D or E grade.

Australia has a D grade, with 38% of its assessed fish stocks classified as overfished and 60% of Australia’s waters’ total catch from unassessed sources. Data on the stores are reportedly “grossly lacking.”

Vietnam and Malaysia, which are also among the ten biggest fishing countries globally, receive an F grade.

Overfishing must be reeled in
The degraded state of the fisheries industry is threatening ocean ecosystems, livelihoods of 30 million people in small-scale fisheries and the food security of millions of people.

According to the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), three billion people depend on seafood as a critical source of protein. Fish are a critical source of micronutrients that help tackle deficiencies that cause nearly half of all deaths in children under five.

Dr. Kendra Thomas Travaille, who leads the Global Fishing Index program, says the lack of information on fisheries is concerning. Notably, basic data is lacking on 52% of the world’s marine catch. 

Building capacity to manage and monitor these stocks is important so fish stocks can be sustained for future generations, urges Thomas Travaille. 

Initiating fish stock recovery
The Global Fishing Index aims to provide an evidence base to improve fisheries regulations and help return fish stocks to sustainable levels.

Dr. Tony Worby, CEO of Minderoo Flourishing Oceans Initiative, says: “While the issues and strategies will be very different for each country, all countries need to set ambitious targets to recover overfished stocks and report on their progress.”

“We are now calling on governments and businesses to declare their intent and demonstrate action to reverse fisheries decline.”

The report measures country-level progress toward the global target set by the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14.4.

The Minderoo Foundation believes the Global Fishing Index will quickly establish itself as a new mechanism for countries and their governments and corporations to be recognized for turning good intentions into meaningful action and to track their progress.

In 2020, ocean lobby groups and NGOs were hit hard following the European Commission’s proposal for Baltic fishing limits for 2021.