{"id":20164,"date":"2020-11-20T13:01:14","date_gmt":"2020-11-20T10:01:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/mena\/%d9%85%d8%b5%d8%a7%d9%8a%d8%af-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a3%d8%b3%d9%85%d8%a7%d9%83\/"},"modified":"2026-02-03T16:58:35","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T13:58:35","slug":"fisheries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/mena\/en\/fisheries\/","title":{"rendered":"Fisheries: The World’s Food and Livelihoods Under Threat"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Northwest Africa, from Morocco to the Gulf of Guinea, over half of fish stocks are overexploited, with weak signs of recovery.<\/p><\/section><\/div>\n

Fisheries play a critical role in ensuring global food security, supporting local economies, and providing livelihoods for millions\u2014especially coastal communities. Beyond supplying a vital source of food and income, they help preserve marine biodiversity and enhance the resilience of ocean ecosystems. Yet despite their strategic importance, fisheries are facing mounting threats that endanger their sustainability in both the short and long term.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n

From climate change and plastic pollution<\/a> to overfishing and mismanagement, a range of factors is converging to jeopardize our marine resources\u2014and the people who rely on them for sustenance, income, or cultural identity.<\/p>\n\n

What Do the Numbers Tell Us?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

Fisheries are far more than just a productive sector. They form a cornerstone of the global food system, a key livelihood source, a biodiversity reservoir, and a powerful tool in combating poverty and achieving sustainable development.<\/p>\n\n

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations<\/a>, marine fisheries supply around 80 million tons of protein annually and generate $80\u201385 billion in revenue each year. The sector provides employment to an estimated 260 million people worldwide, many of whom are small-scale fishers deeply rooted in coastal and marginalized communities.<\/p>\n\n

In its 2024 report \u201cThe State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture\u201d<\/a>, the FAO reported that global fisheries and aquaculture production surged to 223.2 million tonnes in 2022, with 185.4 million tonnes of aquatic animals and 37.8 million tonnes of algae. While aquaculture has seen major growth, wild capture fisheries have remained relatively stable since the late 1980s. In 2022, natural capture fisheries produced about 92.3 million tons, including 81 million from marine waters and 11.3 million from inland waters, highlighting their ongoing global importance.<\/p>\n\n

Regionally, the FAO’s General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean<\/a> estimates that fisheries in the Mediterranean and Black Sea generate about $2.8 billion annually\u2014despite facing severe environmental pressures.<\/p>\n\n

In response to global shifts, the FAO is urging a “Blue Transformation”\u2014a strategic vision to increase sustainable production, improve nutrition, protect marine ecosystems, and raise living standards in coastal areas\u2014ensuring no one is left behind.<\/p>\n\n

What\u2019s Putting the World\u2019s Fisheries at Risk?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

Choking Oceans: The Plastics Crisis<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

Oceans are no longer safe havens\u2014they are rapidly becoming dumping grounds, with plastic pollution at the forefront. The UN Environment Programme<\/a> (UNEP) estimates that 11 million tons of plastic waste enter the oceans every year\u2014the equivalent of a garbage truck dumping plastic into the sea every minute.<\/p>\n\n

This pollution suffocates marine life, causes starvation and toxicity, and harms delicate ecosystems such as coral reefs and wetlands. Microplastics pose an invisible yet deadly risk, infiltrating fish and plankton, threatening the entire food web\u2014including humans.<\/p>\n\n

Ghost gear\u2014abandoned fishing nets, lines, and traps\u2014further devastates marine life. These lost tools continue to catch and kill indiscriminately for decades.<\/p>\n\n

The economic toll is also enormous. Coastal industries like fishing and shipping bear the brunt. In the Mediterranean alone, the annual cost is estimated at US$138 million per year<\/a>, reflecting the widespread impact on people\u2019s livelihoods.<\/p>\n\n

Overfishing: Depleting the Oceans<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Overfishing is one of the gravest threats to the sustainability of global fisheries. When the rate of extraction surpasses the natural replenishment of fish stocks, ecosystems collapse and productivity declines. This leads to the depletion of commercially valuable species and the deterioration of life for millions of coastal fishers who depend on the sea.<\/p>\n\n

In its 2025 report, the FAO warned that 35%<\/a> of global fish stocks are exploited unsustainably due to overfishing, poor governance, and the impacts of climate change. The findings, based on an analysis of 2,570 marine species, reveal alarming pressure on our oceans.<\/p>\n\n

Yet, there is hope. Approximately 77% of fish consumed globally comes from sustainably managed fisheries\u2014especially in regions such as:<\/p>\n\n