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We seek a paradigm shift in global fisheries management. Take the pledge and join us.

To: National Government Fishery Ministries and Regional Fishery Management Organizations

For too long, nations have made backdoor deals leading to decisions that are increasingly at odds with their commitments on climate, biodiversity, and food security. Moreover, they often choose to make these decisions behind closed doors, not following scientific advice, sharing accurate data on their fleet’s fishing activity, ensuring compliance with agreed rules, or exercising precaution when data is limited or where the science shows that a population is in trouble. Nations allow short-term greed for commercial interests to drive the depletion of managed species, speed the degradation of ecosystems, and promote the idea that fisheries management exists outside other global systems. Furthermore, these failures shift the risk and burden-of-proof from fishery managers to extractors, seafood markets, and consumers.

We seek a paradigm shift in global fisheries management. When governments make commitments and pledges to ensure sustainable fisheries and protect our oceans, we will hold them accountable. No longer will important stakeholders be left out of a process that is currently weighted in favor of the short-term interests of industrialized fisheries. Decisions that affect every human should be made outside of the shadows, in plain sight, under the watchful eye of civil society.

The future of our ocean, food supply, and coastal communities is at stake. Fortunately, the tools to successfully manage international fisheries are available—all that’s missing is the political will of governments and regional fisheries management bodies to implement them.

Take the Pledge

A project funded by Oceans 5