THE
GLOBAL
FISHING
INDEX
2021
Assessing the
sustainability
of the world’s
marine fisheries
2 3

CONTRIBUTORS
About Minderoo Foundation Acknowledgements
Established by Dr Andrew Forrest AO and Dr Kendra Thomas Travaille, Dr Asha McNeill, We thank the many contributors from around the
Nicola Forrest AO in 2001, Minderoo Foundation is Dr Julia Santana Garcon, Jemma Turner, Megan Cundy, world who provided country-level information to inform
proudly Australian. One of the Asia Pacific’s largest Alex McLennan, Abiyoso Purnomosakti, Vyvyan Summers, our assessments. We also thank all contributing case
philanthropic organisations, we have committed Fiona David and Dr Tony Worby. study authors for the opportunity to feature their tireless
AU$2 billion to a range of global initiatives. efforts to improve fisheries sustainability.
The Global Fishing Index is a project of Minderoo Research partners We would also like to thank:
Foundation’s Flourishing Oceans initiative, which aims We worked with the Sea Around Us initiative and
Quantitative Aquatics, Inc (Q-quatics) to produce Our research partners and Expert Advisory
to restore the ocean to a flourishing state by advancing
country-level stock sustainability and data availability Panel members, as well as Dr Chris Wilcox from the
ocean conservation, generating knowledge about the
metrics. The Sea Around Us is a research initiative at Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research
marine environment and ensuring all fisheries operate
The University of British Colombia and The University Organisation for advice regarding the fisheries
sustainably and responsibly.
of Western Australia. Their work focuses on assessing governance analysis; Dr Roman Marchant,
A critical step towards this goal is to improve our the impacts of fisheries on marine ecosystems and Dr Vincent Chin, and Prof Sally Cripps from the Australian
understanding of the state of fisheries around the developing solutions for stakeholders. Q-quatics is a Research Council Centre in Data Analytics for Resources
world – to better identify bright spots and management non-profit organisation that supports the assembly and and the Environment (DARE) for their review and valuable
gaps, discover and share solutions, and increase the dissemination of key data on living aquatic resources. insights regarding the stock assessment approach; and
accountability of those responsible for fisheries and Dr David Kroodsma and Dr Nathan Miller at Global Fishing
seafood supply chains. Sea Around Us supported the analysis of the state of Watch for their input and advice on the use of vessel
fish stocks and data availability by collating publicly monitoring data; and the team from the Competence
The Global Fishing Index provides a snapshot of current available data and generating new estimates of the Centre on Composite Indicators and Scoreboards for
fisheries performance and will be updated every three abundance of fish stocks. In particular, we would like to their advice on the methods and analyses for our
years. The next version will be released in 2024. thank Prof Daniel Pauly, Dr Maria (Deng) Palomares, governance assessment.
Prof Dirk Zeller, Dr Gabriel Vianna, Vina Parducho and
Data statement Rebecca Schijns from Sea Around Us for their hard work Finally, we thank our colleagues Will Clapin, Niki Comparti,
Visit www.globalfishingindex.org to explore the data and contributions. Harrison Schmitt, Matt Bolt, Aleta Johnston, Rhys Alliex,
behind the Global Fishing Index. Dr David Tickler and Dr Brock Bergseth for their invaluable
contributions and support in developing this report.
All country-level results are available for download at Expert advisory panel
www.globalfishingindex.org . Additional detail is available Dr Dyhia Belhabib, Dr Phillipa Cohen, Martin Exel, Editor, Minderoo Foundation
by contacting [email protected]. Dr Rod Fujita, Dr Elizabeth Fulton, Charles (“Chuck”) Fox,
Dr John (“Jack”) Kittinger, Dr Katie Longo, Dr Shanta Barley
Dr Tom Pickerell and Prof Rashid Sumaila
Production, Minderoo Foundation
Benjamin Horgan

To quote this report:

Minderoo Foundation (2021) The Global Fishing Index:
Assessing the sustainability of the world’s marine fisheries.
•• Perth, Western Australia, 60 pp.
Trawler fishing for herring in the English Channel -
Calais, France Photo credit: Christian Aslund /
EyeEm via Getty Images
To download this report:
www.globalfishingindex.org
Copyright © 2021. The Minderoo Foundation Pty Ltd.
All rights reserved.
 5

Contents
Contributors 3
Foreword 7
Chairman’s Message 8
Executive Summary 10
Context 20
Our Approach 22
Key Findings 32
Bright Spots – Lessons In Fisheries Success 40
The Solutions 42
Country Level Results 48
Glossary 54
Endnotes 56

••
Black cormorant feeding on bait fish - Sea of Cortez, USA
Photo credit: wildestanimal via Getty Images
6 7

FOREWORD
Peter Thomson
UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean

There is no healthy planet without a healthy ocean,

and the latter’s health is measurably in decline.
One of the greatest tasks of our times is to reverse
that decline and restore the good health of the ocean.
We can do it, of that I am sure, but we must prevaricate no
further. Our children and grandchildren’s future security
demands that we take action now.
In my role as the Special Envoy for the Ocean, I am
focused on implementing the universally agreed targets
of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14), to conserve
and sustainably use the ocean’s resources. These targets
include a demand that we effectively regulate harvesting
of these resources, end overfishing, illegal fishing and
destructive fishing practices, and implement science-
based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in
the shortest time feasible. How are we doing on that?
This report makes it very clear we are not doing well.
Minderoo Foundation’s Global Fishing Index shines a
bright light on the scourge of overfishing. Highlighting the
situation in 142 countries, it challenges all of us to up our
game in the implementation of SDG target 14.4. It is a call
to action to all countries to tighten controls and eliminate
the drivers of overfishing once and for all, so that we can
ensure a healthy, bountiful ocean for future generations.
We know that where fisheries are effectively managed,
stocks are above target levels or rebuilding, and that the
converse is also true. As the United Nation’s Food and
Agriculture Organisation affirms, management is the
best form of conservation.
I commend this report to all those interested in
safeguarding the sustainability of the ocean’s fish
stocks and thank the Minderoo Foundation for their
commitment in producing this Global Fishing Index for
the benefit of us all.

Peter Thomson
UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean

••
Fishing boats set sail in the morning to
••
East China Sea for fishing on September 17, 2021.
Yellowtail
Zhoushan,snapper
Zhejiang Province of China
Photo credit: Stephen Frink via Getty
VCG / Contributor Images
via Getty Images
8 9

CHAIRMAN’S
MESSAGE
I am incredibly proud to Just 10 countries get a ‘C’ grade – just scraping a
pass. The vast majority (over 80 per cent) including
present this first edition important fishing countries like China, Indonesia,
of Minderoo Foundation’s Japan, Peru and the Russian Federation, get a ‘D’ or
‘E’. For a country so proud of its ocean, my own home
Global Fishing Index. country – Australia – gets a ‘D’, with 30 per cent of our
But I am also deeply assessed stocks classified as overfished.

saddened by its findings. Without real and genuine action, the commitments
we have made to the United Nation’s Sustainable
Development Goal target 14.4 to end overfishing are
The world’s fish stocks are in a dire state, far worse
nothing more than hollow promises.
than previously thought. Almost half of the world’s fish
stocks, of those that we have data for, are overfished. Governments around the world have not only missed
the target, the problem is getting worse.
But this is only part of the picture. For many stocks,
we have little or no data. In 91 countries, over half We are not on a pathway to a sustainable, healthy
of fish caught comes from ‘unassessed’ stocks. ocean. We are not on a pathway that will support the
These stocks could be healthy – or overfished. food, nutrition and livelihood needs of billions of people
into the future.
We just do not know. The data is not there.
One critical challenge in fisheries management is
It gets worse: 100% of coastal fish stocks are
the assumption that it is ‘acceptable’ to fish down stocks
unassessed in 29 countries – many of which have
to just 40 or 50 per cent of their historic, unfished levels.
local communities who depend on these fisheries
While we used this single-species approach, we strongly
for livelihood, food and nutrition security.
believe a revolution in thinking – and management –
The reality is that countries continue to target is needed.
already-overfished stocks, and blindly exploit stocks
We must move away from single-focus thinking, towards
they know next to nothing about. Eight per cent of fish
an ecosystem-based approach. This is critical if we are to
stocks globally are on the brink of collapse – with less
ensure the health of fish stocks in the face of the current
than 10 per cent of their pre-fishing population left.
climate crisis affecting our planet.
The Global Fishing Index (the Index) is a major step
My message to the governments, companies and their
towards recognising these problems, and turning
shareholders that are driving the devastation of our ocean
them around.
is clear: allow your fisheries to slide further and further
The Index is the largest assessment of fish stocks to toward collapse, to the detriment of your people and
date – an unflinching analysis of 142 countries. pocketbooks. Or, change now, so that we can celebrate
Combining data on stock health and governance, you in our next edition of the Global Fishing Index.
we give each country a grade of ‘A’ through to ‘F’.
We are just getting started.
Most countries are a fail.

Dr Andrew Forrest, AO
Chairman – Minderoo Foundation

••
Fishing boats set sail in the morning to the
East China Sea for fishing on September 17, 2021.
- Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province of China
Photo credit: VCG / Contributor via Getty Images
10 Global Fishing Index 2021 Executive Summary 11

EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
Over the past 50 years, the world has witnessed
a massive decline in the health of its fisheries.1
Key findings:
Quite simply, we are removing fish from the ocean
at a far greater rate than they can naturally replenish.
Urgent action is needed
Overfishing, driven by poor management, illegal and
to achieve sustainability
destructive fishing and an ever-expanding fishing fleet, goals, including SDG
has diminished fish populations to unhealthy levels, and
there is little sign of recovery.
target 14.4.
Marine fisheries provide millions of people with
an income, food and nutrition, and without healthy fish
We find that:
stocks and marine ecosystems, the planet and future 1. C
 ollectively, countries are
populations will suffer. But the ocean and the livelihoods
of the millions of people who depend on it are being not delivering against global
destroyed. fisheries sustainability
In response to this crisis, global leaders set a target to commitments.
end overfishing and restore fish stocks to sustainable
levels of abundance by 2020 as part of the United 2. J
 ust over half of the
Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG target global fisheries catch lacks
14.4). However, we are still far from achieving this goal, sufficient data to determine
and many fisheries continue to operate with little
oversight – making it impossible to measure, its status.
monitor or manage fisheries toward this outcome. 3. 45% of assessed stocks
The Global Fishing Index (the Index) addresses this are overfished - with nearly
challenge by providing the most-comprehensive
assessment of the state of fisheries to date and 1 in 10 stocks on the brink
connecting this information with decision-makers of collapse.
to drive global change.
4. M
 ost fisheries lack science-
The Index brings together data on the status of
1,439 fish stocks, across 142 countries, with total based management, which is
national catch and new information about how fisheries essential for sustainability.
are governed in each country to report for the first time
on country-level progress toward SDG target 14.4. 5. Vital stakeholders,
But we don not want to just call out problems. We also including local fishing
provide practical country-level recommendations for communities, are unable to
governments and businesses to help reverse fisheries effectively participate
decline and protect and restore the health of the ocean.
in fisheries management.

••
Fish Market - Ha Long, Viet Nam
Photo credit: Nguyen Duc Thành/
EyeEm via Getty Images
12 The Global Fishing Index 2021 Executive Summary 13

COLLECTIVELY, Based on 80 20 of the 25 countries

with the largest total
current marine catch in their

COUNTRIES ARE NOT

progress national waters get a
and the 70
‘D’ grade or lower.
governance

DELIVERING AGAINST
Norway
systems in Peru

place, we find

SUSTAINABILITY GOALS.
that – without 60
United States of America
significant Iceland Chile

improvements,
there is little 50

prospect for United

Of 142 countries assessed, 61 achieving Kingdom

no country achieves an ‘A’ or ‘B’ grade. countries

sustainable 40
Bangladesh
Canada
Only 10 countries receive a ‘C’ grade – having demonstrated some
progress to restore fish stock health and governance capacity to
fisheries in
keep improving. Alternatively, 19 countries receive an ‘F’ grade, most countries. Argentina Russian
as nearly all fish stocks are unassessed or overfished and there is Federation
little prospect of improving without substantial investment
30
in fisheries governance and management.
A B C D E F India
Philippines
Morocco
Japan

OVERALL GRADE 20 Mexico

Brazil

Indonesia
Mauritania

China
Republic of Korea
10 Malaysia

Progress score
Thailand

Viet Nam
Guinea-Bissau

Myanmar
0
very low low med high very high

Governance capacity

Progress score and governance capacity Small

catch
of the top 25 producers of marine catch.
Size of circle indicates catch volume (tonnes).
Colours indicate overall grade received, based
on a country’s progress towards restoring fish
stocks and governance capacity. Large
catch

Overall grade

A B C D E F

Non GFI Exclusive ••

country Economic Zones Photo credit: Getty Images
14 The Global Fishing Index 2021 Executive Summary 15

ONLY 48% OF THE OF 1,439

TOTAL GLOBAL CATCH ASSESSED
HAS SUFFICIENT DATA TO STOCKS,
DETERMINE ITS STATUS 45% ARE Catch Sustainability*

We find that:
OVERFISHED 52% Unassessed
34% Sustainable
14% Overfished

48 68 29
*Status of total marine
catches since 1990

countries have assessed less countries have assessed less countries have not 1 in 3 fish caught is
than 25 per cent of the total than 10 per cent of their nationally assessed a single national
marine catch in national waters. managed catch. or shared stock.
from a sustainable stock

Stock Sustainability

PROGRESS SCORE 45% Overfished

55% Sustainable

NEARLY
1 IN 10
STOCKS
HAS BEEN
DRIVEN TO
COLLAPSE
Progress score

<1 1–10 11–20 21–30 31–40 41–50 51–60 61–70 71–80 81–90 91–100

••
Non GFI Exclusive School of Sardines - Philippines
country Economic Zones Photo credit: Mathieu Meur via Getty Images
16 The Global Fishing Index 2021 Executive Summary 17

COUNTRIES ARE NOT APPLYING Are there governance

mechanisms in place to ensure

SCIENCE-BASED MANAGEMENT fishing is sustainable?

IN MOST OF THEIR FISHERIES.

Using 72 indicators, we find that,
on average, most countries have established
the basic elements of fisheries governance.
However, major gaps remain –

WHAT COUNTRIES particularly around implementing fisheries policy.

33 countries

NEED TO DO:
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6
Set fisheries Collect high Analyse data to Develop evidence- Use data for Monitor compliance
objectives quality data monitor impact based management decision making and outcomes Top 5 governance gaps

When comparing the top and bottom 20 performing countries in

• 22 countries lack • 20% of countries do • Almost 40% of • Only 46% of • Only 41% of • 27% of countries
environmental not require fishers to countries do not countries apply countries have do not consistently
governance capacity, we find the greatest gaps relate to:
sustainability goals report catch or formally assess most science-based catch harvest control conduct planned
for fisheries effort data of their fish stocks or effort limits in more rules in their most fisheries inspections Information
• 10% of countries • Nearly 50% of • 36 countries do not than a few fisheries valuable fishery • Bribery and corruption & monitoring
lack economic, countries do not use a quantitative • 21 countries do not • 1 in 4 countries are considered common Knowledge of
environmental and independently verify stock assessment apply science-based lack a strategic in 1 in 4 countries stock health
livelihood objectives reported information model in their most catch or effort limits plan for achieving
for fisheries or enforce reporting valuable fishery in any fisheries fisheries objectives Compliance
requirements & surveillance

Resourcing
Step 7
Review policy settings

GOVERNANCE CAPACITY Opportunities to

participate

Very low Very high

Governance capacity

Of 142 countries, only:

6
have committed to worker rights and safety by
signing ILO Work in Fishing Convention (No. 188)
and the IMO Cape Town Agreement

50
have taken action to combat illegal, unreported and
unregulated (IUU) fishing, by ratifying the Port State
Measures Agreement and adopting a National Plan
of Action to combat IUU fishing

71
spend more money on beneficial programs for
fisheries management and conservation than on
harmful subsidies related to overfishing

89 use participatory management approaches that

include local fishing communities in decision-making,
such as community-led or customary management

Governance capacity
very low low mid high very high

••
Non GFI Exclusive Phu Yen province, Viet Nam
country Economic Zones Photo credit: Khanh Bui via Getty Images
18 The Global Fishing Index 2021 Executive Summary 19

CALL TO ACTION RECOMMENDATIONS

We call on governments,
businesses and local
communities to urgently:

1 Set ambitious targets to restore fish stocks

and follow through with management action.
Meeting SDG target 14.4 will require countries and businesses to
Governments
1. A
 ddress the worst problems first, including overfished stocks
and weak elements of governance.
not only commit to improving, but follow through with management 2. A
 dopt evidence-based policies that promote sustainable
action. It will require increased investment in fisheries management, fishing - such as science-based catch and effort limits and
as well as innovation and collaboration across sectors to identify harvest control rules.
new means of meeting policy commitments. Leaders should start by
3. Invest in improving fisheries management – replicate proven
reviewing the areas where their performance is weakest - using the
successes and trial new approaches to meet global commitments.
Index’s country-level results to identify critical gaps. Explore what
has been successful elsewhere and work to adapt and recreate these
interventions to meet local needs.
Businesses
1. A
 udit your supply chain and require full disclosure about

2 Establish systems to collect and

publish fisheries data.
Establish and expand data collection programs and integrate other
fishing practices and activities from source companies and vessels.
2. S hift sourcing to reward suppliers that offer sustainable products
and those that demonstrate both commitment and progress
types of information, including ecological data and local stakeholder towards good practices and management.
knowledge, into decision-making processes. Fisheries information 3. Advocate for, fund and implement policies that will increase the
such as catch and effort data, vessel and licence registries and sustainability of fisheries in your supply chain.
vessel tracking data should be made publicly available to enable
independent monitoring and help tackle entrenched issues,
such as corruption and illegal behaviour. Local fishing communities
1. Drive local innovation to develop fit-for-purpose solutions.

3 Embed evidence in fisheries management,

using a precautionary approach where
uncertainty is high.
2. A
 dvocate for policy change, individually or as part of a
fishing association or cooperative.
3. C
 ollaborate with managers, scientists, and other groups to
Ensure that management strategies and measures are based address threats to local fish stocks and ecosystems.
on scientific evidence, not politics. Train managers on how to
best use data to develop policy and how to evaluate and adapt
management to ensure success. When data are missing, managers
should take a precautionary approach, applying cautious measures
to account for uncertainty and reduce potential risks. Considering
the vital role fisheries play in livelihoods, food security and nutrition,
this process must be applied in all fisheries, not just those with high
economic value.
20 The Global Fishing Index 2021 Context 21

CONTEXT
The fishing and seafood While there have been pockets of success where
strong interventions have improved stock health,6,7
industry is big business – globally, the state of fish stocks is not improving.8
with a staggering 109 million Fisheries operate across the ocean, with government
subsidies inflating fleets far beyond what is economically
tonnes of fish caught globally viable.9,10,11 Policy makers and businesses focus their
in 2018. resources on big, valuable species, with little regard
for smaller, less valuable fisheries. And perhaps most
importantly, many fisheries continue to operate
Marine fisheries support approximately 260 million
with little oversight. As a result, there is a serious lack
jobs,2 and fish is one of the most-highly-traded food
of knowledge – and data – about fisheries. Without this
commodities globally – worth over US$160 billion in 2018.3
information, we cannot accurately measure, monitor or
Additionally, seafood consumption continues to grow
manage fisheries for sustainability.
every year, with more than three billion people dependent
on seafood for one-fifth of their protein needs.4 The Global Fishing Index aims to address this problem
by providing the largest assessment of the state of
Without healthy fish stocks and marine ecosystems,
fisheries to date and connecting this information with
the planet and future populations will suffer.
decision-makers to drive global change. The Index
Yet, many fisheries resources are being severely
assesses the status – whether they are sustainable
misused. This is due to insufficient, inappropriate
or overfished – of 1,439 fish stocks across 142 coastal
or absent management, leading to overfishing.
countries. By combining this information with catch data
The ocean, and the livelihoods of coastal
and new information about how fisheries are governed
communities that depend on it, are being destroyed
in each country, we report for the first time on the
by short-term interests, rather than protected by
state of fisheries and country-level progress toward
vision of long-term sustainability.
SDG target 14.4.
The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal
This information is used to identify critical gaps and
(SDG) 14 aims to prevent this coming disaster by
recommendations for improvement – equipping decision
setting out a framework to conserve and sustainably
makers with the information they need to end overfishing,
use the oceans.5
restore fish stocks and manage fisheries to ensure long-
Under SDG target 14.4, global leaders committed to: term sustainability.
“By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end
overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated
fishing and destructive fishing practices and
implement science-based management plans,
to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible,
at least to levels that can produce maximum
sustainable yield as determined by their
biological characteristics.”
In 2021, this goal is far from being met.

••
Pa aling divers help to bring a net full of fish to the surface of
the ocean. Pa aling is a controversial Filipino fishing technique that
involves a team of divers who breathe compressed air pumped
down pipes from a boat. On the seabed the divers set up a huge net
at one side of a deep sea reef and then swim across the reef in a line
from the opposite side in order to corral fish into the net -
South China Sea, Philippines. Photo credit: Gulfu Photography
via Getty Images
22 The Global Fishing Index 2021 Our Approach 23

OUR APPROACH
The Global Fishing Index Along with stock status, we also highlight the data gap
– that is, how much remains unknown about the state
What is the state of fish stocks, Stock sustainability
assesses global and country- of a country’s fish stocks. To do this, we divided stocks and how far have countries To calculate stock sustainability, we determined the
proportion of assessed fish stocks at the global and
level progress towards fisheries into those that had been ‘assessed’ and those that were
‘unassessed’. Assessed stocks had official published
progressed toward restoring all country level estimated to be at or above a level of
sustainability: are countries stock assessment results or sufficient data to estimate stocks to sustainable levels? abundance that enables MSY. MSY is the maximum
catch that can be continuously removed from a stock,
effectively managing fisheries current stock abundance, relative to unfished levels.
Conversely, unassessed stocks lacked this information To understand the global state of fisheries, we used
under constant conditions, without affecting long-term
to end overfishing and restore and were of unknown abundance. publicly available information and reconstructed catch
productivity. MSY is the most common type of reference
point used in fisheries to determine sustainability and
fish stocks to sustainable levels All data and analyses were subject to strict internal
estimates generated by the Sea Around Us initiative to
develop two metrics:
is embedded in international policy, such as the United
of abundance? quality control and assurance processes. Additionally,
an independent assessment of the Progress score and • Stock sustainability: the proportion of assessed stocks
Nation’s Convention on the Law of the Sea.
We estimated the current level of abundance, relative to
Governance analyses was undertaken. Based on the estimated to be at or above a level of abundance that
Specifically, we asked three questions: unfished levels (based on biomass – that is, the total mass
activities, it has been determined that the analyses enables maximum sustainable yield (MSY). of the population in tonnes) for as many stocks as possible
• What is the state of fish12 stocks, and how far have processes align to the agreed technical methods and
• Data availability: the proportion of a country’s within each country’s waters in 2018. This included fish
countries progressed toward restoring all stocks to documentation, and the analyses processes do not alter
total reconstructed catch that comes from ‘assessed’ stocks that occur completely within a country’s national
sustainable levels? or manipulate the relevant dataset(s) beyond the stated
stocks, where there is sufficient data to determine their waters (national stocks), stocks that are a shared
intent and agreed technical methods.
• What governance mechanisms are in place relative abundance. responsibility of neighbouring countries (shared stocks),
to ensure fishing is sustainable? Importantly, our results are only as good as the underlying and stocks that move across multiple exclusive economic
information. Increasing global data collection, sharing and We combined these two metrics into a single Progress zones, are caught by many countries and are managed
• Based on current progress and governance capacity, score, which captures each country’s level of progress
what is the outlook for achieving this goal? transparency in fisheries is key for driving not only future collaboratively by a regional fisheries body (straddling
improvements to the Index – but our understanding of the towards achieving SDG target 14.4. This score ranges from stocks), that were identified in a country’s reconstructed
Our analysis included 1,439 stocks spanning 142 coastal state of fisheries. 0 (no evidence of progress) to 100 (a system in which all catch data.
countries and territories and focused on fisheries within catch has been assessed and all stocks are at or above
each country’s national waters, a band of ocean that sustainable levels). Where available, we extracted relative abundance
extends 200 nautical miles offshore from each country’s estimates from recent official14 stock assessments
In line with SDG target 14.4, the Progress score represents (527 stocks). Where stocks lacked a recent official
coastline. Together, these countries accounted for about the biological sustainability of fish stocks, rather than
92 per cent of total global marine catches in 2018, assessment but had sufficient data publicly available,
ecological sustainability, and does not consider the we used established data limited models – the Bayesian
our baseline year for data.13 In future editions, broader impacts of fishing on marine communities
we aim to expand coverage to include additional Schaefer Model (BSM) and an updated version of CMSY
or ecosystems. Despite their importance, with few (known as CMSY++)15 – to produce novel estimates of
countries and jurisdictions, including the high seas. exceptions, there is an absence of information and relative abundance (912 stocks). To increase confidence
methods for assessing these broader aspects of in assessment results, we excluded any CMSY++ results
sustainability at a global scale. However, we will explore that did not have robust estimates of ‘end biomass’, i.e.
these alternative ecosystem-based approaches in future published or expert-based biomass estimates since
iterations of the Index. 2014, to inform the model. These models rely on species’
productivity and catch time series data to estimate
fisheries reference points, such as MSY and biomass,
and were developed to help monitor stocks with little
data.16 The addition of these new estimates substantially
increased the scope and resolution of fisheries data
globally and allowed for comparison across countries.

••
Commercial fishing vessel for Atlantic bluefin tuna.
Tuna are an important species for many countries in
terms of catch (tonnage) and value - Mediterranean Sea.
Photo credit: Antonio Busiello via Getty Images
24 The Global Fishing Index 2021 Our Approach 25

Next, we used the relative abundance estimates Data availability

to classify the status of each stock. Stocks whose
To fully understand the state of a country’s fisheries, it
abundance was estimated to be at or above the level that
is important to consider not only what is known – that is,
produces MSY were classified as ‘sustainable’, while those
the state of assessed stocks – but also what is unknown.
whose abundance was below this level were classified
Quantifying how much remains truly unknown is a key
as ‘overfished’. This approach recognises that MSY
challenge in fisheries. For example, we do not have a clear
should be viewed as a lower limit, not a target for stock
understanding of how many stocks exist in a country or
sustainability. Although the actual level of abundance
region to calculate exactly how many remain ‘unassessed’.
that produces MSY varies across stocks based on their
biological characteristics, we applied a single threshold In this version of the Global Fishing Index, we use catch as
for all stocks in our dataset. This approach enables direct a proxy for understanding this knowledge gap. This is not
comparison between countries and removes any incentive a perfect proxy, as the ability to assess a large proportion
for countries to set lower, unsupported levels of MSY. of the catch depends on the size and diversity of fisheries
in a country’s waters. For example, temperate countries’
Specifically, our method assumes that MSY occurs at
fisheries are often dominated by a small number of
50 per cent of unfished levels of stock abundance,17
species, while countries in the tropics have highly diverse,
with a 10 per cent margin of error, which means that a
multispecies fisheries.
stock is considered ‘overfished’ if its current abundance
is less than 40 per cent of its unfished abundance. Note, To calculate data availability, we quantified the proportion
219 stocks were assessed based on their spawning stock of the total reconstructed catch within each country’s
biomass (SSB) – the total weight of fish in a stock that waters from 1990 to 2018 that was represented by
are old enough to reproduce. In these instances, stocks the assessed stocks in our dataset. We focused on
with an SSB greater than or equal to 20 per cent of the this historical period to account for stocks that were
unfished level of SSB were classified as ‘sustainable’, previously abundant or caught in high amounts but have
while those whose abundance was below this level were since been reduced to very low levels of catch.
classified as ‘overfished’. These approaches for classifying
First, we estimated the total reconstructed catch from
stocks align with the method used by the Food and
within each country’s waters for this 29-year period.
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).18
The Sea Around Us catch reconstruction process
Finally, global and country-level stock sustainability combines reported ‘official’ catch estimates with other
metrics were calculated as the proportion of assessed information (such as trade records, seafood consumption
stocks classified as ‘sustainable’ within the global dataset rates, national employment data and vessel registries) to
and within each country’s national waters, respectively. provide a more comprehensive and accurate estimate
of total marine catch within a country’s national waters.
We recognise that calculating MSY requires quantitative
In the absence of formally defined stock boundaries,
data and technical expertise, which is not available
species catches were split into stock-level catches
for all fisheries, and that in the absence of this data,
using marine ecoregions.19 Marine ecoregions constitute
other indicators of stock status can be used. We aim to
ecologically distinct areas and were used to represent the
incorporate other indicators that are used to assess stock
geographical ranges of individual stocks within a species.
status, such as risk-based approaches and indicator
species, in future versions of the Index. To estimate what proportion of the total catch has been
‘assessed’, we divided the combined catch (in tonnes)
of the assessed stocks in our dataset by the total
reconstructed catch within each country’s waters for
1990 to 2018.

••
Shoal of bigeye trevallys - Indian Ocean, Maldives
Photo credit: imageBROKER/Norbert Probst via Getty Images
26 The Global Fishing Index 2021 Our Approach 27

Data on nationally managed catch Progress score

We also evaluated the proportion of ‘nationally managed We multiplied each country’s stock sustainability and
What governance With many stocks already below sustainable levels,
failures in governance threaten fish stocks, the livelihoods
catch’ that had been assessed for each country. data availability scores to produce a single Progress mechanisms are in of coastal communities and the food security of millions of
This includes catches from national and shared stocks,
but excludes catches from straddling stocks, such as
score for each country, out of 100. This Progress score
represents each country’s progress towards SDG target
place to ensure fishing people. To understand today’s situation, and highlight how
we can turn it around, the Global Fishing Index assessed a
tuna or other highly migratory species, that move across 14.4, in which all fish stocks are restored to sustainable is sustainable? country’s capacity to govern their fisheries sustainably.
multiple exclusive economic zones, are caught by many levels of abundance. To assess governance capacity, we followed the process
countries and are managed collaboratively by a regional Fisheries governance includes the economic, political
We used the data availability for nationally managed outlined by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation
fisheries management organisation (RFMO). and administrative systems that guide the regulation
catch to ensure a country’s Progress score reflects and Development (OECD) for constructing composite
of the fisheries sector.20 This includes customary
To calculate data availability for nationally managed national performance and was not driven by regional indicators.21 This includes developing a conceptual
social arrangements alongside laws, policies and rules
catch, we applied the same approach as that used to management action. We ‘capped’ the score for any framework, collecting data, scoring each indicator and
implemented by government, as well as through the
calculate the total data available, limiting the analysis country with less than 10 per cent of their nationally weighting and aggregating the indicators, attributes and
private sector, including fisher organisations,
to the catch from national or shared stocks only. managed catch assessed. The cap was set at the global dimension scores to produce a single governance result
seafood buyers and market-related measures.
median (23 out of 100). This cap has the effect of keeping for each country.
these countries within the middle scoring range until the
assessment threshold is met. Sixty-eight countries met
the cap criteria, but only 26 scored higher than the cap
value and had their score adjusted.

••
Fishermen collect
their catch from
nets central Aceh
province, Indonesia
on August 31, 2019.
Photo credit:
wildestanimal via
Getty Images
28 The Global Fishing Index 2021 Our Approach 29

Governance framework 6. S
 takeholder engagement and participation: Data collection and analysis We used multiple decision criteria to convert the
We focused on six areas of fisheries governance, assessing the capacity of stakeholders We collected governance data for each country using assessment scores to a Governance capacity level,
referred to as ‘dimensions’, which are critical for ensuring (including fishers, seafood processers, governmental publicly available information including published ranging from very low (no evidence of a system for
sustainable fisheries (Figure 1). These dimensions were and non-governmental organisations, research datasets, reports and peer-reviewed journal papers. governing fisheries) to very high (representing a well-
further broken down into 18 ‘attributes’, which represented institutions and local communities) to meaningfully These data were supplemented with an online developed system with very high capacity to secure
specific, yet interconnected elements of governance and participate in fisheries governance and management questionnaire and interviews with local fisheries experts, sustainable fisheries). This approach considers the
were measured using 72 indicators. processes, including whether the managing including government officials, scientists and academics, strength of the governance system, based on the overall
authority enables these interactions and whether fishing industry representatives and non-government assessment score, as well as the level of balance across
The six dimensions of governance are: the stakeholders have the capacity to engage, the dimensions, based on dimension-level scores (Table 1).
organisation (NGO) staff. We collected 274 completed
1. P olicy and objectives: evaluating a country’s for example through fisher organisations. questionnaires across 116 countries and conducted 216 This approach recognises that each of the six dimensions
laws and policies on fisheries, including its interviews across 76 of the assessed countries. are crucial for ensuring a well-functioning governance
environmental, economic and social sustainability Data were collected between August 2019 and May 2020. system and that a high score in one dimension cannot fully
goals. This includes the ratification of key international compensate for a low score in another.
We used this data to score each of the 72 indicators
agreements on fisheries management and Where a country does not meet all required criteria,
conservation, as well as worker rights and safety
POLICY & (out of 100). Indicator scores were then averaged to
OBJECTIVES produce attribute and dimension-level scores. it was capped at the highest Governance capacity level in
in fisheries. This dimension also assesses harmful the lower balance criteria.
We surveyed 43 experts (including government
subsidies (government funding that enhances fishing
officials, NGO staff, academics and industry members) We understand there is no single ‘best’ system for
capacity and is linked with overfishing).
STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT to understand the relative importance of each of the governing fisheries to achieve sustainable fishing.
2. Management capacity: assessing the resources, PARTICIPATION CAPACITY six dimensions for ensuring sustainable fisheries and We also acknowledge that our assessments are biased
expertise and tools available to manage fisheries, calculating dimension-level weights. We then combined towards a conventional, ‘top-down’ governance approach.
including financial, technical and professional capacity.
1 the six dimension-level scores to produce an overall Additionally, there will be cases where a country may
This dimension also assesses various management weighted average assessment score (out of 100) for score poorly for a specific attribute or dimension due to
measures, particularly science-based measures, each country. the indicators used, despite having an alternative system
such as harvest control rules. 6 2
3. Information availability and monitoring:
measuring the range, quality and resolution of GOVERNANCE Table 1: Rubric used to determine a country’s Governance capacity to ensure sustainable fishing in national waters, between zero (‘Very low’)
information available in each country to inform FRAMEWORK and 12 (‘Very high’), based on overall assessment score and balance across dimensions. A country must meet the assessment score and
fisheries management and decision-making. six dimensions balance criteria to advance to the next capacity level.
This includes information about catch and fishing
effort, the state of fish stocks and the size and 5 3 Assessment score
< 40 40- 45- 50- 55- 60- 65- 70- 75- 80- 85- 90- 95-
44.9` 49.9` 54.9` 59.9` 64.9` 69.9` 74.9` 79.9` 84.9` 89.9` 94.9` 100
structure of the fishing fleets operating inside a
country’s national waters. Minimum of 60 across all
4 Balance criteria None Minimum of 30 across all dimensions
dimensions
4. L
 evel and control of access to fisheries resources:
assessing the extent to which fishing fleets Very Very Low Low Low Med Med Med High High High Very Very
COMPLIANCE INFORMATION & Low low high high
(domestic and foreign) have access to a country’s MANAGEMENT MONITORING Governance capacity
fisheries. This dimension also assesses the diversity
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
of tools used to regulate and monitor access,
including fishing licence requirements and spatial CONTROL
zoning (e.g. marine protection or exclusion areas). OF ACCESS
5. C
 ompliance management system: evaluating the in place that may achieve the same outcome. We are it is authorised to fly. We will be addressing ‘flag state’
strength of a country’s fisheries compliance and working to improve our ability to recognise and measure responsibilities and behaviour in future reports.
enforcement program, including monitoring and Figure 1: Six dimensions of governance assessed in alternative systems and approaches in future versions
The governance results do not necessarily reflect
surveillance to detect illegal fishing and the use of each country. These dimensions comprise 18 attributes, of the Index.
the effectiveness of the elements in place. Achieving
sanctions to penalise infractions. This dimension which are measured using 72 indicators.
Our framework does not consider fishing activities sustainable fisheries will depend on a country’s ability to
also examines the perceived integrity of the fisheries conducted by a country’s fleet outside their national implement and enforce policies, plans and management
authority and judicial system and the level of high- waters. As a result, fishing by ‘distant water fleets’ is activities that are committed to ‘on paper’.
risk fishing activities, including flags of convenience assessed against the country in which the fishing occurs. Countries must first make these commitments and
vessels registered to foreign countries to evade We recognise that many countries do not have the build the systems capable of effective governance.
regulation or tax. capacity to monitor or enforce foreign fishing activities Then they must work to implement them fully
within their waters, and that governance of these fleets and effectively.
is also the responsibility of the vessel’s flag state – the
country where the vessel is registered and whose flag
30 The Global Fishing Index 2021 Our Approach
Approach 31

Table 2: Rubric used to determine a country’s overall grade,

Based on current Progress based on its Progress score and Governance capacity
and Governance capacity,
how are countries performing Governance capacity
against SDG target 14.4? Progress score Medium or above Very low to low
We awarded each country a single overall grade, (level 6 – 12) (level 0 – 5)
based on current performance and the outlook
for restoring fish stocks and ensuring sustainable
fisheries. The highest possible grade is A, followed 90 – 100 A B
(Flourishing)
by B, C, D, E and F.
Grades were determined based on a country’s 70 – 90 B C
Progress score and Governance capacity. (Significant progress)
First, the Progress score was used to identify
the grading band. Progress scores between 0-10 40 – 70 C D
represent ‘negligible progress’, Progress scores (Some progress)
between 10-40 represent ‘limited progress’,
Progress score between 40-70 represent ‘some 10 – 40 D E
(Limited progress)
progress’, Progress score between 70-90 represent
‘significant progress’ and Progress score between
90-100 represent achieving SDG target 14.4 and
0 – 10 E F
(Negligible progress)
flourishing, sustainable fisheries. We then used
the Governance capacity level to determine the
final overall grade. Where a country had limited
Governance capacity (i.e. level 5 or lower), it was
downgraded, representing an increased risk of the
over exploitation of fish stocks in the future and/or
limited prospect of improvement from current levels
of progress towards SDG target 14.4 (Table 2).
Countries fall into a grading band for
different reasons, and it is important to review
country-specific results and recommendations
on our website.

••
Fish market - Hue city, Viet Nam.
Photo credit: HNH Images via Getty Images
32 The Global Fishing Index 2021 Key findings 33

KEY FINDINGS
1
Almost half of assessed fish stocks
are overfished – and nearly 1 in 10 have
been driven to the point of collapse.
Of the 1,439 stocks we assessed, 45 per cent are overfished the extent to which they have been depleted,
– meaning they have been depleted below 40 per cent of their exploitation history, how fast they grow and reproduce,
unfished populations (the level that can produce MSY). and fishing pressure during the recovery period.23,24,25,26
This is considerably higher than a previous estimate of The fate of these fish stocks, and associated marine
34 per cent, based on a smaller sample of stocks.22 ecosystems and fishing communities, depends on
Additionally, if we were to apply a hard limit for MSY at authorities taking swift and decisive action to rebuild
50 per cent (with no margin of error), the proportion of them to sustainable levels.
overfished stocks would rise to 56 per cent.
Interestingly, most countries (86 per cent) have a stock
Alarmingly, one in five stocks within our data is estimated sustainability score greater than 0.5 – meaning that over
to be below 20 per cent of unfished levels of abundance, half of the assessed stocks in their national waters are
far below what is considered sustainable. Additionally, sustainable. This figure on its own, however, is misleading
eight per cent of stocks have been reduced to less than – as many countries have assessed few stocks or the
10 per cent of unfished populations (Figure 2) – the point assessed stocks comprise only a small portion of their
of collapse. total catch. For example, an estimated 92 per cent of the
assessed stocks in Nicaragua’s waters are sustainable.
Overfished stocks require between three and 30 years to
But these assessed stocks account for only two per
recover to sustainable levels of abundance – depending on
cent of its total catch and
the state of almost all of
its fish stocks is unknown.
This calls to attention the

Overfished
Collapsed

Sustainable
At risk
240
importance of considering
not only what is assessed,
but also how much remains
200 unknown about a country’s
fish stocks when evaluating
sustainability.
160

Figure 2: Number of fish

120 stocks, by relative abundance.
Relative abundance is defined
as a stock’s current abundance
80 (biomass) relative to historic,
unfished levels. Half of assessed
Number of stocks

stocks are currently less than

•• 40 40 per cent of unfished levels of
Fisher women dry fish (Bombay duck) on bamboo poles - abundance, one quarter sit at
Mumbai, India Photo credit: Photo by Ashish Vaishnav/SOPA 40–60 per cent, and one quarter
Images/LightRocket via Getty Images 0.0 are above 60 per cent.
<10% 10-20% 20-30% 30-40% 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90% >90%

Current stock abundance relative to unfished levels

34 The Global Fishing Index 2021 Key findings 35

remaining stocks remaining stocks

42% 32% 8%
unassessed
5%
Stock 1
60%
Stock 1 Stock 2 unassessed

2
3%
Stock 2

3%
Stock 3
2%
Stock 4

2%
Stock 5
1%
Stock 6 Half of the global catch is from
6% 4% 3% 1% 1%
unassessed stocks, which lack the data
Stock 3 Stock 4 Stock 5 Stock 7

1%
Stock 8

1%
to say if they are sustainable or not.
Stock 6 Stock 7 Stock 8 Stock 9 Stock 9 Stock 10

Fifty-two per cent of the global catch total catch is sustainable due to the
Top 10 stocks (by volume) in Peru unassessed Top 10 stocks (by volume) in Australia unassessed
since 1990 has come from stocks that dominance of tuna, but Kiribati is
Peru & Australia Comparison lack sufficient data to estimate stock yet to assess a single national stock.
abundance. As a result, we do not know Building capacity to monitor and
Countries differ in the size of fish stocks assessed, based on total catch.
National stocks if this catch is sustainable. Without manage coastal stocks will be crucial
For example, the top 10 stocks by catch (in tonnes) in Peru account for this information, decision-makers for ensuring sustainable use of these
91 per cent of total catch. In comparison, the top 10 stocks by catch yes no countries with no are operating ‘in the dark’, unable to locally valuable resources.
(in tonnes) in Australia account for only 21 per cent of total catch. national stocks effectively manage fisheries.
We note that some countries have
Globally, far too few fish stocks have an advantage in terms of data
DATA GAPS Non GFI
country
Exclusive
Economic Zones
been assessed: one-third of countries
in our dataset have assessed less than
coverage, with most of their catch
coming from a handful of large stocks.
a quarter of what is caught in their This advantage depends on the level of
waters. Additionally, we find that marine biodiversity within a country’s
68 countries have assessed less waters and a country’s fisheries.
than 10 per cent of their ‘nationally Peru, for example, scores well because
managed’ catch, which comes from its fisheries are dominated by two
fish stocks that occur completely large anchoveta stocks that together
within a country’s jurisdiction (national account for over 70 per cent of the total
stocks) or are a shared responsibility of catch (Figure 3).33 In comparison, other
neighbouring countries (shared stocks). countries catch dozens of species in
smaller amounts, making it harder to
Twenty-nine of these countries do not
achieve good data coverage. Australia,
have a single national or shared stock
for example, has 132 assessed stocks in
assessed (Figure 4) – with their data
our dataset, yet 60 per cent of its catch
availability limited to RFMO-managed
remains unassessed (Figure 3).
stocks. More than half of these are
small island developing states that rely
on coastal stocks as a critical source Figure 3 (top): Comparison of stock
of jobs, food, and nutrition for local size as a proportion of total marine catch
communities.27,28 This result reveals a in Australia and Peru’s national waters
surprising contrast for many countries (1990-2018).
whose economies depend on highly Figure 4 (bottom): Twenty-nine countries
migratory species, like tuna. Many of in our dataset have not assessed a single
these countries, particularly in the national stock, demonstrating the lack of
Pacific, have made substantial progress data availability within coastal fisheries.
Most of these countries occur in tropical
to develop strong regional management areas and many (62 per cent) are Small
of these straddling stocks29,30 – Island Developing States.34
yet there is little information about the
state of critical inshore fish stocks. 31,32
For example, 82 per cent of Kiribati’s
 36 The Global Fishing Index 2021 Key findings 37

3
70

Latvia

Turks and Caicos Islands Peru

60 Norway
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba

With few exceptions,

United States of America Iceland countries are failing to deliver
on global commitments.
Sweden
Denmark Chile
50
Ireland
Uruguay

We find that globally, there is a clear gap between has been made in some fisheries, additional work is
Oman
Ghana United Kingdom management commitments and the actions required to needed to expand management across additional
achieve on-the-water change. Over half (56 per cent) stocks to reach global sustainability goals.
of the countries in our dataset have developed basic
40 Canada South Africa Eighty per cent of countries received a ‘D’ or ‘E’ grade
governance and management frameworks to prevent
Bahamas Antigua and Barbuda
– including six of the top ten countries with the highest
Portugal Lithuania Croatia overfishing and restore fish stocks. However, on average
Georgia Namibia marine catch in their waters: China, India, Indonesia,
Bangladesh Argentina countries score only 22 out of 100 for progress; this means
Japan, Peru and the Russian Federation. These countries
Ecuador
Cape Verde
New Zealand
that they are only one-fifth of the way towards achieving
Panama have made limited progress toward SDG target 14.4,
Colombia Seychelles Russian Federation SDG target 14.4.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Marshall Islands Sierra Leone a substantial portion of their stocks are overfished or
30 Algeria
Solomon Islands Germany
Slovenia
Based on current progress and governance capacity unassessed and/or their fisheries governance system
Grenada
Papua New Guinea
Tuvalu
India
Spain Netherlands to improve fish stock health, no country achieved an is lacking the basic elements needed to effectively
Bermuda Vanuatu Greenland Australia
Comoros
American France ‘A’ or ‘B’ grade – in which most fish stocks are assessed manage fisheries.
Costa Rica Samoa Cook Islands
Wallis and Futuna Islands Maldives Palau and known to be sustainable. Just ten countries – Chile,
Tokelau
Kiribati
Belize French Polynesia Nineteen countries get an ‘F’ grade – including Viet Nam
Niue Islamic Republic of Iran Denmark, Ghana, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Norway, Sweden,
Aruba Timor-Leste United Arab Emirates and Malaysia, which are among the top ten countries
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Anguilla
São Tomé and Príncipe
Jordan Samoa Philippines
with the highest marine catch in their waters. In these
Pakistan Italy Fiji Japan and the United States of America – received a ‘C’, the
20 Federated States of Micronesia
Nauru Mexico
New Caledonia
Belgium countries, nearly all stocks are unassessed or overfished,
Cyprus Côte d’Ivoire Tunisia Morocco Indonesia highest grade achieved. These countries achieve a
Brazil and there is little prospect of advancing without major
Cuba Malta
Progress score of at least 40 out of 100 and have well-
Mauritania Falkland Islands (Malvinas) improvements in management.
Albania Turkey Tonga developed governance systems. However, while progress
Democratic Republic of the Congo Gambia Congo Taiwan (Province of China)
Angola Gabon Republic of Korea
Montserrat Saudi Arabia
Ukraine Greece United Republic of Tanzania
US Virgin Islands Senegal Madagascar
10 Honduras Guinea China Bulgaria
Nothern Mariana Islands Malaysia Thailand
Barbados Equatorial Guinea
Progress score

Somalia Israel Guinea-Bissau

Cayman Islands Benin Kenya
Dominican Republic Guatemala
Haiti El Salvador
Djibouti Kuwait Egypt
Cameroon Pitcairn Liberia Nigeria
Mozambique Nicaragua
Lebanon Sudan
Viet Nam Eritrea Myanmar
0

very low low med high very high

Governance capacity

Figure 5: Country-level performance based on progress towards restoring Overall grade ••

fish stocks and governance capacity to ensure sustainable fishing. Fishing net full of large fresh fish - South Australia, Australia
Colours indicate overall grade received. Photo credit: Tim phillips photos via Getty Images
A B C D E F
38 The Global Fishing Index 2021 Key findings 39

4
Most fisheries lack
5
Key stakeholders, including local
science-based management. fishing communities, are unable to
effectively participate in management.
Science-based fisheries management, in which policy • Where data is available, it is not being used for Despite their importance in enabling effective In many countries, stakeholders lack the capacity
and management actions are based on fisheries data, management. Only 46 per cent of countries assessed management, few countries empower stakeholders, to effectively engage in management due to a lack
is essential for preventing overfishing and securing apply science-based catch or effort limits in more than including local fishing communities, to meaningfully of organisation and representation, such as through
sustainable fisheries.35,36,37 a few fisheries.41 Further, only 41 per cent of countries participate in management processes. Stakeholders fisher working groups or cooperatives, or transparency
use harvest control rules, pre-agreed rules that guide act as a source of information on fishing activities, in decision making. For example, only 23 per cent of
We find that most countries do not, and are currently
management action based on stock health, in their threats and stock and ecosystem health and help countries publish minutes from management meetings,
unable to, effectively apply science-based management
most valuable fishery. hold decision-makers to account.45,46,47 Stakeholder making it difficult for people to respond or track how
in all fisheries. This is because they do not collect or
• Compliance with regulations is not being monitored participation in decision-making, especially fishers, decisions are made. Transparency in decision-making
analyse basic fisheries data, do not base management
or enforced. While 87 per cent of countries assessed can also increase compliance with the rules, reducing is critical for improving information sharing, as well as
on scientific evidence and/or do not monitor or enforce
require both in-port and on-water inspections,42 enforcement costs.48,49 holding decision-makers to account and tackling
regulations to ensure fishers comply with the rules.
27 per cent of these do not consistently conduct these fisheries corruption.
Even the highest performing countries are failing to Yet one-quarter of countries assessed do not legally
apply science-based management in all fisheries. checks.43 Additionally, only one-third of countries have require authorities to include fishers in decision-making.
Nonetheless, most countries (85 per cent) have set clear made strong commitments to combat illegal, unreported Additionally, nearly 40 per cent of countries lack ‘bottom
environmental sustainability goals to guide decision- and unregulated (IUU) fishing by adopting a National up’ forms of governance, such as community-based or
making – the first step of science-based management. Plan of Action to prevent IUU fishing and ratifying customary management, where stakeholders are active
the FAO’s 2009 Port State Measures Agreement. participants in management processes.
There are three key issues: While nearly all countries have strong penalties for
• Most countries do not consistently collect or rule breakers, bribery and corruption are considered
analyse fisheries data. Although 81 per cent of the a common occurrence in a quarter of the countries
countries assessed require fishers to collect catch or assessed, jeopardising compliance systems.44
effort data in their most valuable fishery,38 nearly half
do not independently verify the reported information
or routinely enforce reporting requirements.39
Additionally, almost 40 per cent of countries
do not use fisheries data to assess changes in
abundance for most of their stocks.40

••
A woman dries anchovies along Lhokseudu beach
in Aceh province, Indonesia –January 26, 2021.
Photo credit: haideer mahyuddin/afp via Getty Images
40 The Global Fishing Index 2021 41

BRIGHT SPOTS
LESSONS IN FISHERIES SUCCESS

Despite the lack of progress towards fisheries By monitoring where these vessels are and what they
sustainability globally, there have been pockets of are likely to be fishing, we can now uncover illegal fishing
success where interventions have improved fisheries activities and hold perpetrators to account.
outcomes. Important lessons can be learned from
When there are few alternatives for food and
these ‘bright spots’ – instances where strong action and
employment, overfishing can trap fishers in a vicious
innovative solutions are improving fisheries outcomes.
cycle – chasing fewer and fewer fish to meet livelihood
A global study of fisheries management looking at needs. Some fishers have been able to break out of this
stocks over time shows that, on average, stocks with trap by acting holistically and combining improvements
highly reliable data and robust scientific assessments in environmental sustainability with increased profits
of status are healthy or improving.50 The specific tools through a co-management approach.54 In Mexico, a
leading to the best outcomes include adopting clear unique ‘triple impact’ approach combining people,
rebuilding plans, strong national policy commitments planet and profits is incentivising sustainable fishing,
and harvest control rules.51 leading to increased income alongside less overfishing,
investments in no-take reserves and reduced bycatch.
Likewise, new technologies are emerging that are changing
the way fisheries information is collected and used – These case studies – and other examples from around
empowering communities and policy makers to make the world – demonstrate that we can transform the
evidence-based decisions. Combining community training current state of fisheries. We have included these
with beachside data collection, smartphones and solar- examples to help share successful approaches,
powered tracking devices, small-scale fisheries are being so they can be replicated and adapted elsewhere and to
transformed in Timor-Leste52 – bringing new insights inspire new solutions to address fisheries challenges.
into fishing patterns and providing accurate estimates of
national catches for the first time in two decades.
At the other end of the scale, industrial fishing vessels
that operate without broadcasting their positions are now ••
being ‘seen’ using a suite of cutting-edge technology. Porfirio Z. Zuñiga (above) and other partners of his co-op ••
at Punta Abreojos, BCS Mexico dramatically improved the A security ship crew of Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries,
The combination of vessel tracking technology and
quality and price of their sandbass by improving their catching, monitor radar during a patrol in the South China Sea on August
satellite images reveal the extent of fishing activities handling, processing, packing, and transport techniques. 17, 2016 in Natuna, Ranai, Indonesia. Photo credit: SONNY
by these ‘dark fleets’.53 Photo credit: © Carlos Aguilar, SmartFish TUMBELAKA/AFP via GettyImages
42 The Global Fishing Index 2021 The Solutions 43

THE SOLUTIONS

The goal of this first Global and to shine a light on the It is clear from our results that the current approach
for managing and rebuilding fish stocks is not working.
Restoring fish stocks to sustainable levels will require
action by all stakeholders including governments,
Fishing Index is to help extent of the global fisheries With few exceptions, most countries have been unable the fishing industry, seafood businesses, civil society
governments, businesses crisis, and identify solutions to deliver against global commitments, resulting in
meagre progress towards SDG target 14.4.
organisations and local communities. This will require
that we commit to, and invest in, making this change.
and local communities that will drive improvements Some of the solutions already exist. However,
understand the state of in fisheries sustainability. we also need to develop and share new, accessible
fisheries in national waters means of managing fisheries that can be adapted and
replicated to scale-up progress around the world.

••
Fishermen throw fishing net on boats to catch fish in Hue, Viet Nam.
Photo credit: Tran Tuan Viet via Getty Images
44 The Global Fishing Index 2021 Recommendations 45

CALL TO ACTION RECOMMENDATIONS

We call on governments,
businesses and local CALL TO ACTION
communities to:

1 Set ambitious targets to restore fish stocks

and follow through with management action.
GOVERNMENTS
Governments have the primary responsibility for governing fisheries.
Meeting SDG target 14.4 will require countries and businesses to
They have a responsibility to their citizens to prevent overfishing and
not only commit to improving, but follow through with management
ensure the sustainable use of marine resources.
actions. It will require increased investment in fisheries management,
as well as innovation and collaboration across sectors to identify

1
new means of meeting policy commitments. Leaders should start by
reviewing the areas where their performance is weakest - using the Eliminate the worst drivers of overfishing first.
Index’s country-level results to identify critical gaps. Explore what Reconsider the management measures in place for overfished stocks
has been successful elsewhere and work to adapt and recreate these and take corrective action where needed. Work to improve governance,
interventions to meet local needs. focusing on the gaps identified in your assessment results. Combat
IUU fishing by adopting a National Plan of Action and ratifying the FAO
2009 Port State Measures Agreement. Commit to protecting worker

2 Establish systems to collect and rights and safety by signing the 2007 ILO Work in Fishing Convention
(No. 188) and the 2012 IMO Cape Town Agreement. Eliminate perverse
publish fisheries data. incentives that drive overfishing, such as harmful subsidies.
Establish and expand data collection programs and integrate other
types of information, including ecological data and local stakeholder

2
knowledge, into decision-making processes. Fisheries information
such as catch and effort data, vessel and licence registries and vessel
Implement strategies to achieve
tracking data should be made publicly available to enable independent sustainability goals.
monitoring and help tackle entrenched issues, such as corruption and Set public, time-bound and measurable targets to improve the state
illegal behaviour. of fisheries, such as rebuilding plans for overfished stocks, track your
performance and publish fisheries data to increase accountability.

3
Adopt evidence-based policies that promote sustainable fishing -
Embed evidence in fisheries management, such as science-based catch and effort limits and harvest control rules.
using a precautionary approach where
uncertainty is high.
Ensure that management strategies and measures are based
on scientific evidence, not politics. Train managers on how to best
use data to develop policy and how to evaluate and adapt management
3 Invest in fisheries management programs.
Including the personnel, infrastructure and equipment needed to apply
science-based management. Develop and trial innovative approaches
to ensure success. When data are missing, managers should take to achieve these goals (available at www.globalfishingindex.org).
a precautionary approach, applying cautious measures to account
for uncertainty and reduce potential risks. Considering the vital role
fisheries play in livelihoods, food security and nutrition, this process
must be applied in all fisheries, not just those with high economic value. Country-specific results and
recommendations are also provided
at www.globalfishingindex.org
46 The Global Fishing Index 2021 Recommendations 47

RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS

FISHING AND SEAFOOD BUSINESSES LOCAL FISHING COMMUNITIES

Businesses represent a powerful force that can dramatically Small-scale, artisanal and subsistence fishing plays an integral
and rapidly improve seafood supply chains through corporate role in global fisheries – representing a range of diverse fishing activities
policies and market incentives.55 Businesses have a responsibility from beach collecting to coastal fishing using small vessels. These
to ensure they contribute to fisheries improvements and don’t communities stand to lose the most if fisheries and ecosystems collapse,
profit from overfishing. and they play an important role in achieving a productive, equitable and
sustainable future for fisheries.

1 Audit your supply chain.

Require full disclosure from companies in your supply chain
about where they are fishing, what they are catching and 1 Trial local solutions.
We recognise that each fishery is different, and solutions to
how it is being caught or produced, including labour practices. overfishing in the small-scale sector must be locally driven and
Insist on who, what, where and how as mandatory reported metrics. fit-for-purpose. Improvements will require the use of new and existing
management tools that are simple, affordable and scalable across
these systems. Where available, collaborate with government agencies,

2 Change sourcing habits. scientists, other fisher groups, civil society organisations and local
communities to address sustainability concerns and threats to local fish
Adopt real, quantifiable and time-bound commitments to
stocks and ecosystems.
avoid companies or fishing regions that are not sustainable,
and shift to suppliers that demonstrate good sustainability
practices and management.

2 Advocate for change.

All individuals and small operators – from harvesters to sellers –

3 Support improvements.
Take an active role in advocating, funding and implementing
policy and management reform that will increase the sustainability
can advocate for change and contribute to a better approach to fisheries.
To help accelerate management improvements, consider joining with
others (in an association or cooperative) to coordinate and negotiate with
regulators, and the companies who buy, process and market your fish.
of fisheries in your supply chain. This includes collaborating with like-
minded stakeholders in your supply chain to effect change, for example
via pre-competitive action or credible fishery improvement projects.
The Global Fishing Index 2021 48

COUNTRY
LEVEL
RESULTS
Results and supporting
data for 142 countries
assessed in the 2021
Global Fishing Index.

••
Man hauling fishing boat into the ocean, Accra ,Ghana.
Photo credit: Junior Asiama / 500px via Getty Images

* denotes countries that have assessed less than 10% of the catch Note, 26 countries had their scores
from nationally managed stocks and whose Progress score has adjusted due to the cap (denoted by *†)
therefore been capped.

Overall results Progress results and supporting data Governance results

Country name
ISO Code
Region
Grade
(A to F)
Progress score
(out of 100)
Governance level
(0-12)
Data availability
Stock sustainability
Number of stocks
assessed
Number of official
assessments
Number of novel
estimates
Assessment score
(out of 100)
Policy and
objectives
Management
capacity
Information
availability
Level and control
of access
Compliance
management
system
Stakeholder
engagement

Albania ALB Europe and North America E 16.2 4 29.7% 54.5% 11 1 10 55 59 55 61 43 73 43

Algeria DZA Northern Africa and Western Asia E 30.3 5 57.7% 52.5% 59 3 56 64 57 83 67 81 68 43
American Samoa ASM Oceania D 23.0*† 7 58.7% 63.6% 11 9 2 73 47 90 91 57 94 92
Angola AGO Sub-Saharan Africa E 13.6 4 17.4% 77.8% 18 8 10 58 53 70 51 61 74 43
Anguilla AIA Latin America and the Caribbean E 23.5 3 28.3% 83.3% 12 8 4 52 59 43 46 56 82 33
Antigua and Barbuda ATG Latin America and the Caribbean D 39.5 7 39.5% 100.0% 8 6 2 71 59 90 57 72 87 71
Argentina ARG Latin America and the Caribbean D 34.9 6 60.7% 57.6% 33 13 20 70 64 70 82 83 76 51
Aruba ABW Latin America and the Caribbean E 23.0*† 0 45.5% 84.6% 13 8 5 35 50 20 21 52 57 26
Australia AUS Oceania D 27.8 10 39.8% 69.7% 132 91 41 88 78 93 96 83 97 88
Bahamas BHS Latin America and the Caribbean E 39.3 5 87.1% 45.2% 31 7 24 62 76 68 51 47 78 56
Central, Southern, Eastern and
Bangladesh BGD E 35.7 5 38.0% 93.8% 16 6 10 64 69 58 59 81 74 47
Southeast Asia
Barbados BRB Latin America and the Caribbean F 6.6* 1 7.9% 83.3% 12 8 4 40 51 30 49 22 49 46
Belgium BEL Europe and North America D 20.4 8 29.7% 68.8% 16 11 5 78 73 85 86 76 81 71
Belize BLZ Latin America and the Caribbean E 22.6 4 33.9% 66.7% 12 5 7 59 48 75 48 67 86 46
Benin BEN Sub-Saharan Africa F 4.0* 4 4.6% 86.7% 15 8 7 59 71 58 40 69 59 56
Bermuda BMU Europe and North America E 23.0*† 4 51.8% 90% 10 7 3 56 47 55 61 65 82 38
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius
BES Latin America and the Caribbean D 58.9 3 67.3% 87.5% 16 8 8 51 45 53 43 50 61 60
and Saba
Brazil BRA Latin America and the Caribbean D 19.0 6 28.0% 67.6% 37 10 27 69 58 65 65 68 81 85
Bulgaria BGR Europe and North America E 9.5 8 28.5% 33.3% 6 0 6 75 76 85 96 44 79 82
Cabo Verde CPV Sub-Saharan Africa D 23.0*† 6 51.6% 73.3% 15 8 7 67 64 68 72 62 86 53
Cameroon CMR Sub-Saharan Africa F 3.0* 0 3.4% 87.5% 16 7 9 29 56 38 4 22 63 35
Canada CAN Europe and North America D 39.9 8 75.8% 52.7% 188 137 51 76 71 90 91 54 97 63
Cayman Islands CYM Latin America and the Caribbean F 7.4* 3 11.1% 66.7% 3 3 0 50 51 30 41 67 71 50
Chile CHL Latin America and the Caribbean C 50.7 9 77.6% 65.4% 26 10 16 84 75 90 89 76 91 89
Central, Southern, Eastern and
China CHN D 11.4 6 31.5% 36.2% 58 15 43 67 45 75 78 67 82 71
Southeast Asia
Colombia COL Latin America and the Caribbean E 33.5 3 45.2% 74.1% 27 14 13 56 52 88 74 67 60 24
Comoros COM Sub-Saharan Africa E *† 4 63.4% 93.8% 16 13 3 56 35 73 64 58 63 64
23.0
Congo COG Sub-Saharan Africa E 16.0* 5 18.3% 87.5% 16 8 8 62 57 65 47 75 73 64
Cook Islands COK Oceania D 23.0*† 7 49.6% 69.2% 13 9 4 72 76 85 79 61 85 51

Country Level Results

49
The Global Fishing Index 2021 50

Overall results Progress results and supporting data Governance results

Country name
ISO Code
Region
Grade
(A to F)
Progress score
(out of 100)
Governance level
(0-12)
Data availability
Stock sustainability
Number of stocks
assessed
Number of official
assessments
Number of novel
estimates
Assessment score
(out of 100)
Policy and
objectives
Management
capacity
Information
availability
Level and control
of access
Compliance
management
system
Stakeholder
engagement

Costa Rica CRI Latin America and the Caribbean E 23.0*† 3 41.6% 76.2% 21 17 4 54 56 65 33 64 70 47
Côte d’Ivoire CIV Sub-Saharan Africa E 19.2 4 24.4% 78.9% 19 8 11 59 63 63 82 42 66 44
Croatia HRV Europe and North America D 37.8 7 66.1% 57.1% 14 1 13 73 85 75 85 75 86 40
Cuba CUB Latin America and the Caribbean E 16.8 3 23.0% 72.7% 11 8 3 58 74 58 91 89 67 15
Cyprus CYP Europe and North America E 18.6 1 55.9% 33.3% 12 0 12 40 77 68 70 42 78 3
Democratic Republic of
COD Sub-Saharan Africa E 14.5 3 18.9% 76.9% 13 8 5 53 58 50 36 56 51 75
the Congo
Denmark DNK Europe and North America C 50.9 8 69.8% 73.0% 37 25 12 78 83 85 96 74 77 60
Djibouti DJI Sub-Saharan Africa F 0.1* 2 0.1% 100.0% 13 13 0 49 71 70 32 81 63 15
Dominican Republic DOM Latin America and the Caribbean F 1.7* 4 2.6% 66.7% 15 5 10 59 62 78 58 67 66 36
Ecuador ECU Latin America and the Caribbean D 35.1 6 60.8% 57.7% 26 11 15 68 64 78 78 83 65 49
Egypt EGY Northern Africa and Western Asia E 3.8* 6 6.8% 55.6% 27 11 16 66 56 73 80 87 58 57
El Salvador SLV Latin America and the Caribbean E 4.4* 6 5.4% 81.8% 11 9 2 65 62 65 65 68 70 64
Equatorial Guinea GNQ Sub-Saharan Africa E 6.5* 6 8.1% 80.0% 15 8 7 65 55 88 80 67 52 64
Eritrea ERI Sub-Saharan Africa F 1.1* 4 1.1% 100.0% 11 11 0 58 63 85 40 48 69 51
Falkland Islands
FLK Latin America and the Caribbean D 16.6 7 27.0% 61.5% 13 4 9 71 59 95 92 60 85 53
(Malvinas)
Federated States of
FSM Oceania E 23.0*† 5 87.6% 77.8% 9 7 2 63 42 83 77 52 74 71
Micronesia
Fiji FJI Oceania D 20.6* 7 28.1% 73.3% 15 11 4 73 69 88 80 68 88 54
France FRA Europe and North America D 26.9 9 46.6% 57.7% 104 43 61 80 80 83 91 67 97 68
French Polynesia PYF Oceania D 23.0*† 7 57.4% 76.5% 17 11 6 72 61 75 85 56 89 79
Gabon GAB Sub-Saharan Africa E 14.0* 5 17.2% 81.3% 16 8 8 62 67 78 43 52 74 63
Gambia GMB Sub-Saharan Africa E 15.0 5 26.9% 55.6% 27 8 19 61 66 55 49 49 89 65
Georgia GEO Northern Africa and Western Asia E 36.9 2 92.2% 40.0% 5 0 5 49 47 53 54 42 74 32
Germany DEU Europe and North America D 31.0 8 47.3% 65.5% 29 25 4 76 78 95 84 72 90 49
Ghana GHA Sub-Saharan Africa C 43.8 6 55.2% 79.3% 29 8 21 65 63 78 86 58 70 46
Greece GRC Europe and North America E 13.4 3 21.4% 62.5% 16 3 13 62 68 65 68 72 89 29
Greenland GRL Europe and North America D 27.2 7 42.0% 64.7% 17 12 5 72 54 90 86 71 87 63
Grenada GRD Latin America and the Caribbean E 23.0*† 4 46.5% 84.6% 13 7 6 57 46 65 65 42 65 68
Guatemala GTM Latin America and the Caribbean F 3.7* 5 4.3% 85.0% 20 16 4 62 48 75 70 68 54 68
Guinea GIN Sub-Saharan Africa F 6.8* 4 10.1% 66.7% 21 8 13 58 57 90 44 57 69 47
Guinea-Bissau GNB Sub-Saharan Africa E 6.2* 6 9.9% 62.1% 29 8 21 65 76 68 56 53 76 63
Haiti HTI Latin America and the Caribbean F 5.5* 0 7.3% 75.0% 12 8 4 38 43 38 14 49 56 46
Honduras HND Latin America and the Caribbean F 6.6* 3 9.3% 70.6% 17 11 6 54 59 35 60 64 57 49

Overall results Progress results and supporting data Governance results

Country name
ISO Code
Region
Grade
(A to F)
Progress score
(out of 100)
Governance level
(0-12)
Data availability
Stock sustainability
Number of stocks
assessed
Number of official
assessments
Number of novel
estimates
Assessment score
(out of 100)
Policy and
objectives
Management
capacity
Information
availability
Level and control
of access
Compliance
management
system
Stakeholder
engagement

Iceland ISL Europe and North America C 53.4 8 80.1% 66.7% 21 15 6 77 81 95 96 60 92 50

Central, Southern, Eastern and
India IND D 27.0 7 34.8% 77.6% 76 73 3 73 64 78 70 76 82 72
Southeast Asia
Central, Southern, Eastern and
Indonesia IDN D 19.1 8 23.5% 81.1% 74 25 49 79 60 75 91 83 95 79
Southeast Asia
Ireland IRL Europe and North America C 49.3 7 74.0% 66.7% 30 21 9 72 74 80 91 66 91 40
Central, Southern, Eastern and
Islamic Republic of Iran IRN D 24.4 7 41.4% 58.8% 51 13 38 75 73 90 95 81 67 54
Southeast Asia
Israel ISR Northern Africa and Western Asia F * 2 15.6% 45.5% 11 1 10 47 54 50 35 83 66 21
7.1
Italy ITA Europe and North America D 21.4 6 55.1% 38.8% 80 3 77 69 67 65 84 66 89 51
Central, Southern, Eastern and
Japan JPN D 20.9 8 49.9% 41.8% 67 7 60 77 57 80 91 65 90 96
Southeast Asia
Jordan JOR Northern Africa and Western Asia E *† 4 33.9% 100.0% 10 10 0 58 60 75 44 70 80 36
23.0
Kenya KEN Sub-Saharan Africa E 6.1* 6 7.0% 87.5% 16 11 5 68 57 60 72 64 82 79
Kiribati KIR Oceania E 23.0*† 5 82.4% 90.9% 11 11 0 64 62 85 39 64 69 75
Kuwait KWT Northern Africa and Western Asia F 2.6* 4 3.0% 87.5% 16 12 4 56 50 78 61 89 52 32
Latvia LVA Europe and North America C 64.0 7 96.0% 66.7% 6 5 1 74 74 68 91 83 76 57
Lebanon LBN Northern Africa and Western Asia F 1.8* 3 5.5% 33.3% 12 0 12 54 60 50 45 83 54 40
Liberia LBR Sub-Saharan Africa E 3.4* 6 5.2% 65.2% 23 8 15 66 69 75 74 53 74 56
Lithuania LTU Europe and North America D 37.8 7 94.6% 40.0% 5 3 2 73 72 95 89 73 79 43
Madagascar MDG Sub-Saharan Africa D 11.4* 6 13.4% 85.0% 20 15 5 67 50 58 76 60 80 96
Central, Southern, Eastern and
Malaysia MYS F 6.3* 5 7.8% 80.0% 55 21 34 61 40 68 68 89 95 40
Southeast Asia
Central, Southern, Eastern and
Maldives MDV D 23.0*† 6 60.6% 88.9% 18 13 5 70 68 75 86 72 66 56
Southeast Asia
Malta MLT Europe and North America D 18.4 7 53.8% 34.3% 35 2 33 71 80 68 88 75 83 40
Marshall Islands MHL Oceania D 23.0*† 6 78.4% 72.7% 11 10 1 66 56 65 82 42 87 79
Mauritania MRT Sub-Saharan Africa D 16.9 6 33.8% 50.0% 36 8 28 68 63 78 73 62 72 64
Mexico MEX Latin America and the Caribbean D 19.6 6 30.3% 64.7% 51 19 32 68 42 88 72 78 66 92
Montserrat MSR Latin America and the Caribbean E 13.7* 4 16.0% 85.7% 7 4 3 59 63 55 74 47 63 54
Morocco MAR Northern Africa and Western Asia D 20.6 7 43.0% 48.0% 50 8 42 70 66 88 84 64 88 46
Mozambique MOZ Sub-Saharan Africa E 0.4* 6 0.5% 87.5% 16 14 2 69 66 90 85 54 63 65
Central, Southern, Eastern and
Myanmar MMR E 1.4* 6 1.5% 90.0% 20 13 7 65 58 80 37 83 79 72
Southeast Asia
Namibia NAM Sub-Saharan Africa D 37.2 7 65.1% 57.1% 21 7 14 70 68 90 95 69 89 33

Country Level Results

51
The Global Fishing Index 2021 52

Overall results Progress results and supporting data Governance results

Country name
ISO Code
Region
Grade
(A to F)
Progress score
(out of 100)
Governance level
(0-12)
Data availability
Stock sustainability
Number of stocks
assessed
Number of official
assessments
Number of novel
estimates
Assessment score
(out of 100)
Policy and
objectives
Management
capacity
Information
availability
Level and control
of access
Compliance
management
system
Stakeholder
engagement

Nauru NRU Oceania E 23.0*† 5 95.2% 88.9% 9 8 1 62 52 75 82 43 89 49

Netherlands NLD Europe and North America D 28.1 8 40.4% 69.6% 23 16 7 80 80 98 81 64 92 68
New Caledonia NCL Oceania D 19.6* 8 22.1% 88.9% 9 7 2 76 67 75 85 83 78 75
New Zealand NZL Oceania D 35.4 7 50.1% 70.7% 58 30 28 73 75 95 86 46 87 63
Nicaragua NIC Latin America and the Caribbean E 2.0* 7 2.2% 91.7% 12 11 1 70 54 88 65 75 80 72
Nigeria NGA Sub-Saharan Africa E 3.5* 6 4.2% 82.4% 17 8 9 68 63 65 67 66 78 74
Niue NIU Oceania E 23.0*† 2 24.9% 100.0% 7 7 0 47 46 40 68 56 41 40
Northern Mariana Islands MNP Oceania F 7.8* 3 11.1% 70.0% 10 9 1 50 33 55 47 63 74 46
Norway NOR Europe and North America C 60.3 8 80.4% 75.0% 36 27 9 80 82 80 86 58 87 88
Oman OMN Northern Africa and Western Asia D 45.0 5 54.0% 83.3% 24 13 11 64 62 63 65 69 95 42
Central, Southern, Eastern and
Pakistan PAK E 23.4 4 27.0% 86.5% 37 13 24 59 52 73 36 69 65 78
Southeast Asia
Palau PLW Oceania D *† 8 88.6% 60.0% 10 8 2 76 75 73 82 60 92 75
23.0
Panama PAN Latin America and the Caribbean D 33.8 7 52.4% 64.5% 31 21 10 71 76 75 68 77 82 53
Papua New Guinea PNG Oceania D 23.0*† 6 81.5% 63.6% 11 9 2 66 52 80 77 46 85 71
Peru PER Latin America and the Caribbean D 62.4 4 91.9% 67.9% 28 11 17 56 50 88 67 47 63 36
Central, Southern, Eastern and
Philippines PHL D 22.1 8 46.2% 47.9% 48 6 42 79 67 90 74 81 76 96
Southeast Asia
Pitcairn PCN Oceania F * 3 3.9% 88.9% 9 8 1 52 43 40 27 70 77 83
3.5
Portugal PRT Europe and North America E 38.4 3 51.7% 74.2% 31 16 15 62 74 78 64 78 86 22
Central, Southern, Eastern and
Republic of Korea KOR D 13.6 8 28.2% 48.0% 25 5 20 75 52 85 82 73 87 92
Southeast Asia
Russian Federation RUS Europe and North America D 32.5 6 59.3% 54.8% 31 11 20 70 60 93 91 54 69 67
Saint Vincent and the
VCT Latin America and the Caribbean E 32.2 3 37.5% 85.7% 14 7 7 54 70 90 39 33 62 44
Grenadines
Samoa WSM Oceania D * 7 34.6% 63.6% 11 8 3 72 77 80 72 44 74 92
22.0
São Tomé and Príncipe STP Sub-Saharan Africa E 22.4* 4 28.0% 80.0% 15 8 7 57 69 68 35 63 66 49
Saudi Arabia SAU Northern Africa and Western Asia E 13.6* 5 21.5% 63.0% 27 13 14 60 66 50 43 59 85 63
Senegal SEN Sub-Saharan Africa D 10.6 6 21.3% 50.0% 36 8 28 66 69 65 60 44 83 79
Seychelles SYC Sub-Saharan Africa D 23.0*† 6 38.8% 90.0% 20 13 7 67 74 75 75 53 67 58
Sierra Leone SLE Sub-Saharan Africa D 27.9 6 39.0% 71.4% 21 8 13 70 63 68 80 53 85 75
Slovenia SVN Europe and North America D 29.7 7 83.0% 35.7% 14 0 14 71 77 85 87 72 82 36

Overall results Progress results and supporting data Governance results

Country name
ISO Code
Region
Grade
(A to F)
Progress score
(out of 100)
Governance level
(0-12)
Data availability
Stock sustainability
Number of stocks
assessed
Number of official
assessments
Number of novel
estimates
Assessment score
(out of 100)
Policy and
objectives
Management
capacity
Information
availability
Level and control
of access
Compliance
management
system
Stakeholder
engagement

Solomon Islands SLB Oceania D 23.0*† 6 75.9% 77.8% 9 8 1 66 57 83 77 40 83 71

Somalia SOM Sub-Saharan Africa F 7.3* 1 14.1% 51.9% 27 14 13 45 72 50 21 37 66 35
South Africa ZAF Sub-Saharan Africa D 39.5 8 62.7% 63.0% 46 22 24 79 76 93 90 78 71 68
Spain ESP Europe and North America D 27.8 8 53.2% 52.3% 107 23 84 78 73 75 88 78 93 65
Sudan SDN Northern Africa and Western Asia E 2.4* 6 2.4% 100.0% 11 11 0 67 69 73 61 57 63 85
Sweden SWE Europe and North America C 52.0 8 90.1% 57.7% 26 20 6 76 77 83 91 74 82 54
Taiwan Central, Southern, Eastern and
TWN D 15.4 6 46.3% 33.3% 39 8 31 69 49 78 87 68 97 54
(Province of China) Southeast Asia
Central, Southern, Eastern and
Thailand THA E 9.3 7 11.6% 80.0% 25 10 15 72 67 83 89 56 81 65
Southeast Asia
Central, Southern, Eastern and
Timor-Leste TLS E 23.0*† 2 45.4% 93.3% 15 13 2 47 61 53 28 53 72 26
Southeast Asia
Tokelau TKL Oceania E *† 2 77.1% 85.7% 7 7 0 49 37 45 83 51 63 32
23.0
Tonga TON Oceania D 16.5* 6 22.4% 73.3% 15 12 3 67 52 80 78 37 95 85
Tunisia TUN Northern Africa and Western Asia D 19.5 6 38.2% 50.9% 57 2 55 65 60 75 67 78 62 57
Turkey TUR Northern Africa and Western Asia E 16.1 5 72.6% 22.2% 36 1 35 61 53 65 54 78 63 65
Turks and Caicos Islands TCA Latin America and the Caribbean D 62.5 2 89.2% 70.0% 10 6 4 47 52 55 40 44 65 33
Tuvalu TUV Oceania D 23.0*† 6 89.5% 88.9% 9 9 0 69 65 70 80 42 86 83
Ukraine UKR Europe and North America E 12.1 3 54.4% 22.2% 9 0 9 53 60 70 71 67 72 15
United Arab Emirates ARE Northern Africa and Western Asia D 23.0*† 8 30.2% 77.8% 18 12 6 76 69 68 70 89 92 78
United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern GBR Europe and North America C 44.4 9 70.0% 63.4% 71 50 21 83 79 85 90 70 90 85
Ireland
United Republic of
TZA Sub-Saharan Africa D 11.6* 7 12.4% 94.1% 17 12 5 74 66 85 80 68 78 71
Tanzania
United States of America USA Europe and North America C 53.0 8 73.2% 72.5% 178 121 57 77 55 93 91 62 93 88
United States Virgin *
VIR Latin America and the Caribbean E 10.6 4 10.6% 100% 9 7 2 57 36 63 72 67 82 43
Islands
Uruguay URY Latin America and the Caribbean D 47.7 5 74.5% 64% 25 15 10 63 63 68 76 64 67 46
Vanuatu VUT Oceania D 23.0*† 6 44.1% 83.3% 12 12 0 68 59 75 76 43 90 79
Central, Southern, Eastern and
Viet Nam VNM F 1.3* 3 2.2% 61.9% 21 10 11 56 66 45 27 64 80 65
Southeast Asia
Wallis and Futuna Islands WLF Oceania E *† 3 49.3% 85.7% 7 7 0 54 50 55 50 70 59 46
23.0

Country Level Results

53
54 The Global Fishing Index 2021 Glossary 55

GLOSSARY
KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS Reconstructed catch combines reported ‘official’ catch
estimates with other information (such as trade records, ABBREVIATIONS
Fish stock is a population of a single, or sometimes seafood consumption rates, national employment data
BSM Bayesian Schaefer Model
combined, fish species living in a defined area from which and vessel registries) to provide a more comprehensive
catches are taken in a fishery. and accurate estimate of total marine catch within a FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
country’s national waters. We use the Sea Around Us58
Flag state is any country, landlocked or coastal,
reconstructed catch time series in our analyses. GDP PPP Gross Domestic Product Purchasing Power Parity
that registers a fishing vessel and authorises the
vessel to fly its flag.56 Shared stocks occur within the national waters of multiple
adjacent countries. IUU fishing Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
Maximum sustainable yield (MSY) is the highest
theoretical equilibrium yield (catch) that can be Stock abundance, measured in biomass (B), is used to MSY Maximum sustainable yield
continuously removed from a stock (on average), classify stock status by comparing estimates of current
under existing (average) environmental conditions, abundance (B) relative to unfished abundance (B0). NGO Non-government organisation
without significantly affecting the reproduction process. Stock assessments use biological information, fishery
Based on the Schaefer model,57 MSY is predicted to occur OECD  Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
data such as catch statistics and fishing effort, and where
at 50 per cent of unfished levels of abundance. When available, scientific survey data to estimate population
classifying a fish stock, we apply a 10 per cent margin of RFMO Regional Fisheries Management Organisation
dynamics of fish stocks. Official stock assessments in
error to this threshold to account for uncertainties in the our dataset include stock assessments conducted by
data and model estimates. SSB Spawning stock biomass
a national fisheries authority or scientific body, such as
Nationally managed catch includes catches from fish the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, SDG Sustainable Development Goals
stocks that occur completely within a country’s national the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea,
waters (national stocks) or are a shared responsibility of or RFMOs, with published relative abundance estimates
neighbouring countries (shared stocks). This excludes available.
catch from stocks that are managed by one of the five Straddling stocks move across exclusive economic zone
tuna RFMOs: the Commission for the Conservation of boundaries, often into the high seas, and are caught by
Southern Bluefin Tuna, the Inter-American Tropical multiple countries (for example, tuna, swordfish).
Tuna Commission, the International Commission for
the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna, the Indian Ocean A sustainable stock has an estimated relative abundance
Tuna Commission and the Western and Central Pacific at or above the level that can produce MSY (that is,
Fisheries Commission. greater than or equal to 40 per cent of unfished levels
of abundance) or has a relative value of spawning stock
National stocks are located entirely within a country’s biomass that is greater than or equal to 20 per cent of the
national waters (i.e. coastal waters, territorial sea and unfished level.
exclusive economic zone).
Unassessed catch refers to catch harvested from an
An overfished stock has an estimated relative abundance unmonitored stock for which no reliable estimates of
below the level that can produce MSY (that is, less than current abundance exist, or which lacks the necessary
40 per cent of unfished levels of abundance) or has a data to estimate stock abundance using the data-limited
relative value of spawning stock biomass that is less than approaches applied.
20 per cent of the unfished level.
56 The Global Fishing Index 2021 Endnotes 57

ENDNOTES
1 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations org/10.1073/pnas.1820344116 [17 December 2019] 22 Based on official country reporting of approximately 440 (2020). The western and central Pacific tuna fishery: 2019
(2020). The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020. stocks, an estimated of 34 per cent of fish stocks are overview and status of stocks Tuna Fisheries Assessment,
11 Yozell, S. and Shaver, A. (2019). Shining a Light: The Need for overfished (using the same threshold abundance less than Tuna Fisheries Assessment Report, Pacific Community,
Sustainability in Action., Food and Agriculture Organization of
Transparency across Distant Water Fishing, Stimson Center, 40 per cent of unfished biomass); Food and Agriculture Noumea, New Caledonia, pp. 1-49.
the United Nations, Rome, pp. 1-224. https://doi.org/10.4060/
pp. 1-52. https://www.stimson.org/wp-content/files/file- Organization of the United Nations (2020). The State of World https://meetings.wcpfc.int/node/11964 [11 October 2021]
ca9229en [15 June 2020]
attachments/Stimson%20Distant%20Water%20Fishing%20 Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020. Sustainability in Action., Food
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DISCLAIMER
Governance Indicator 5.1.2: ‘Use of targeted on-land or in-port
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[13 November 2020] Minderoo Foundation Limited as trustee for The
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von Römer, J., Sundtröm, A., Tzelgov, E., Uberti, L., Wang, Y.T.,
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of Democracy (V-Dem) Project. https://www.v-dem.net/media/ 52 Tilley, A., Dos Reis Lopes, J. and Wilkinson, S.P. (2020). published on an “as is” basis. Neither Minderoo
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(2017). Evaluating the best available social science for N.A., Takasaki, K., Kubota, H., Oozeki, Y., Doshi, S., Midzik, M., including as to its accuracy or suitability for
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46 Stephenson, R.L., Benson, A.J., Brooks, K., Charles, A., Degnbol,
P., Dichmont, C.M., Kraan, M., Pascoe, S., Paul, S.D., Rindorf, 54 Peckham, H.S., Tullos Anderson, J. and Drugan, J. (2020). constructive input. Contribution to this report,
A. and Wiber, M. (2017). Practical steps towards integrating Triple Impact Fisheries Evaluation Framework: Integrating or any part of it, does not create or reflect
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47 Fritz, J.-S. (2010). Towards a ‘new form of governance’ in
n+Framework+1.0.pdf [2 February 2021]
science-policy relations in the European Maritime Policy, contributors. The inclusion of a contributor’s
Marine Policy 34, (1), pp. 1-6, https://doi.org/10.1016/j. 55 Österblom, H., Jouffray, J.-B., Folke, C., Crona, B., Troell, details in the Contributors section above
marpol.2009.04.001 [18 March 2020] M., Merrie, A. and Rockström, J. (2015). Transnational reflects that the contributor supports the
Corporations as ‘Keystone Actors’ in Marine Ecosystems, general direction of this report, but does
48 Karr, K.A., Fujita, R., Carcamo, R., Epstein, L., Foley, J.R., Fraire-
PLOS ONE 10, (5), p. e0127533, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. not necessarily agree with every individual
Cervantes, J.A., Gongora, M., Gonzalez-Cuellar, O.T., Granados-
pone.0127533 [11 November 2020] conclusion or recommendation.
Dieseldorff, P., Guirjen, J., Weaver, A.H., Licón-González, H.,
Litsinger, E., Maaz, J., Mancao, R., Miller, V., Ortiz-Rodriguez, 56 United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (2014). The
Minor revisions are occasionally made to
R., Plomozo-Lugo, T., Rodriguez-Harker, L.F., Rodríguez- voluntary guidelines for flag state performance, UN FAO, Rome,
Van Dyck, S., Stavrinaky, A., Villanueva-Aznar, C., Wade, B., pp. 1-15. https://www.fao.org/3/mk052e/mk052e.pdf
publications after release. The digital copies
Whittle, D. and Kritzer, J.P. (2017). Integrating Science-Based [22 October 2021] available on the Global Fishing Index website
Co-management, Partnerships, Participatory Processes and will always include any revisions.
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