A new global report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) released at the UN Ocean Conference reveals both encouraging progress and urgent challenges in the state of marine fisheries. The 2025 Review of the State of World Marine Fishery Resources presents the most comprehensive assessment to date, analyzing 2,570 individual fish stocks—up significantly from prior editions.
The review finds that 64.5% of global fish stocks are being fished within biologically sustainable levels. When adjusted for production volumes, that figure rises to 77.2% of total global landings. However, 35.5% of stocks remain overfished, underscoring the continued need for stronger, science-based management in many regions.
Where effective management systems are in place, sustainability outcomes are far stronger. In the Northeast Pacific, for instance, 92.7% of assessed stocks are fished sustainably. The Southwest Pacific shows similar success at 85%. The Antarctic regions, newly included in this year’s review, report 100% sustainability in assessed fisheries—highlighting what’s possible with ecosystem-based management and international coordination.
“These results show that strong institutions, robust monitoring, and science-based policies can produce real results,” said David Agnew, Executive Secretary of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources.
There is also reason for cautious optimism in the Mediterranean and Black Sea, where fishing pressure has declined by 30% and biomass has increased 15% since 2013. Though only 35.1% of stocks are currently sustainable, the trend suggests that regional cooperation is beginning to yield results.
But significant disparities remain. In the Southeast Pacific and Eastern Central Atlantic, fewer than half of fish stocks are sustainably managed. These regions face greater obstacles—such as limited institutional capacity and gaps in fisheries data—despite their heavy reliance on fisheries for food security, livelihoods, and economic development.
Species-level trends offer further insight. Among the world’s 10 most landed marine species, 60% of assessed stocks are sustainable, contributing 85.8% of total volume from sustainable sources. Tuna is a standout performer: 87% of assessed tuna stocks are biologically sustainable, responsible for 99% of global tuna landings.
In contrast, deep-sea species and highly migratory sharks continue to face major pressures. Only 29% of deep-sea fish stocks are considered sustainable, and weak international oversight continues to hinder shark conservation.
The FAO is calling on governments to close capacity and data gaps, particularly in small-scale fisheries. The report underscores the importance of scaling up proven management strategies and investing in long-term monitoring and governance systems.
“This report gives policymakers the evidence they need to act,” said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu. “The path forward is clear: scale up what works and move urgently to build more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable aquatic food systems. That is the heart of FAO’s Blue Transformation.”