Key messages
Context
Public money can be better spent to support sustainable fishing and the wellbeing of fishing communities
In 2020-22, almost two-thirds (65%) of government support to fisheries (as measured in the OECD Fisheries Support Estimate database) risked encouraging unsustainable fishing in the absence of sustainable fisheries management. Investments in assessing and ensuring fish stock health is beneficial for both a sustainable ocean economy and fishers’ livelihoods. But some support drives unsustainable fishing practices. The risk that this happens depends on two things:
The type of support policy and how directly it affects fishing costs and benefits. .
The condition of the fisheries benefiting from support – in particular, whether they are effectively managed, and whether there is scope for fishing the target stocks more intensively without compromising stock health.
Governments need to review their support policies to understand how they are affecting fishing costs and benefits, and whether they are encouraging over-capacity, over-fishing or illegal fishing.
Improving the productivity and resilience of fisheries
Fisheries and aquaculture provide food for billions and employment for millions. But illegal fishing, overfishing and pollution are all endangering fish stocks and ecosystems. The OECD Review of Fisheries 2025 analyses the current state of fisheries and aquaculture, as well as policies covering 79% of global fish production in 2020-2022.
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