1. World Fisheries: Current Status and Trends
UNEP Workshop on Fisheries Subsidies
and Sustainable Fisheries Management
World Fisheries:
Current Status and Trends
Charlotte de Fontaubert, Ph.D.
IUCN - Washington Office

2. The Numbers Game Total World Production: But …. And …
120.2 in in 2001 (+7%)
But ….
Marine Catches: (+0.7%)
Inland Catches: (+ 33%)
And …
Mariculture: (+39.8%)
Capture: (-3.6%)

3. The Rules of the Game The China Exception: World Marine Figures:
World Figures without China
Total (-2.6%)
Inland (+23%)
Marine (-6.17%)
World Marine Figures:
Capture (-7.75%)
Mariculture (+21%)

4. Biological Indicators
Fishing pressure continues to increase
The Number of underexploited and moderately exploited stocks continues to decline slightly (25% of known stocks)
The number of fully exploited stocks remains relatively stable (47%)
The number of overexploited (18%) and significantly depleted or recovering stocks (10%) is increasing slightly

5. But these numbers ignore two fundamental realities:
The need for an ecosystem approach to fisheries management
The need for a precautionary approach (it’s too late once the stocks have collapsed …)

6. So how are things out of the water?
Governance is evolving:
Mostly at the regional level (RFMOs, SEAFO and Western and Central Pacific Ocean)
But also at the global level, through fisheries management initiatives (UNFSA, FAO IPOAs), but also through linkages with broader biodiversity issues (CBD)
And the two are intimately linked (FOCs)

7. Trade has become a key component of fisheries management
For better (ICCAT, CCAMLR)
Or for worse (negative impact of some subsidies - or why we are here today …)
And some would argue that the rules are still being developed (WTO v. MEAs)

8. The High Seas Time-bomb
 Some of the problems are being displaced rather than addressed (access agreements, over-capacity)
 The problem with seamounts and other particularly fragile areas (biodiversity dimension)
 What is “fueling” this development?