SECOND LAUNCH OF THE 2025 EDITION OF THE FAO REVIEW OF THE WORLD MARINE FISHERY RESOURCES Opening Remarks

Excellences,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning from Rome.

I am so delighted to be joined by the Ambassador of France, who has supported all the activities we had during the UN Ocean Conference in Nice.

I think it is a critical time now. We have to take more action and get more solidarity across UN families, and also all the relevant partners, to work together to address big issues like the ocean.

The oceans account for 75 percent of the earth’s surface. Nobody can deal with it alone. No country, no people, no organization. I really appreciate your leadership during the past year of the UN Ocean Conference.

FAO has been always active, playing a professionally active role in addressing this issue and helping Members and other partners. 

Today, again, welcome to the Second Launch of the FAO 2025 Review of the World Marine Fishery Resources, the most comprehensive and participatory global assessment of marine fish stocks ever conducted.

I was a little bit in shock, but also happy, to receive so many positive comments during the first launch in Nice. At FAO, we have many flagship publications, but to be honest, not all are like this one, highly recognized by partners and all the Members.

This report was launched during the 3rd UN Ocean Conference in Nice in June, at a high-level event and was received very positively as I said.

This second launch is intended to expand the audience to the broader global community, both here in person and virtually.

Our ocean is a source of food, nutrition and livelihoods globally, as well as for the future sustainability of this planet.

Fisheries and aquaculture alone support over 600 million people, many in areas with limited alternative job opportunities.

But the vital roles of the ocean can only be sustained if marine resources are managed responsibly, and their ecosystems maintained healthy.

Evidence proves that effective fisheries management, grounded in sound policies and strong international collaboration, is the only path to sustainability.

To assist the world in steering global fisheries towards better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all, FAO has been reporting on the state of world fishery resources since the early 1970s – we were the first among many of the other partners in the UN system, that is why FAO has always been highly recognized by our partners and the Members.

But the fisheries landscape has evolved since the 1970s, shaped by new technologies, changing resources, shifting priorities, and growing complexity in how we use, manage and value fish stocks.

Advances in data collection, including the integration of Indigenous and traditional knowledge, the use of artificial intelligence, and tailored approaches for data-limited fisheries, have expanded our ability to assess more stocks, more accurately, than ever before.

At the same time, there is a growing need to better represent the diverse realities of fisheries worldwide, from how fish stocks are harvested and managed to how sustainability is defined and pursued across different contexts.

This FAO Review reflects these evolutions.

It brings together the latest science, technology, and on-the-ground expertise from across the globe, providing a more complete, inclusive picture of the state of the world’s marine fishery resources, to better support decision-making and influence global policy developments.

The number of stocks assessed in this report has grown to 2570, from all regions of the globe thanks to the contributions of over 650 experts from over 90 countries, dozens of regional consultations, and close collaboration with national and regional fisheries institutions.

A collaborative and transparent exercise like never before, conducted over the last 2 and a half years.

And it is a testament to FAO’s commitment to Blue Transformation, a vision that not only guides the development of sustainable aquatic food systems, but also drives us to lead by example in how we gather, analyze, and share knowledge.

FAO is proud to present this report as a milestone in global fisheries assessment—a product of collective effort, scientific excellence, and shared purpose.

As we look ahead, this global collaboration gives us confidence that the work will continue to improve, anchored in a strong foundation of trust, knowledge, and collaboration.

Let me conclude by recognizing the hundreds of experts and institutions who contributed their valuable time and expertise, working towards a more sustainable and foods-secure world.

In FAO, we should play a bigger and a better role to coordinate and to bring together all the experts to ensure a professional and impactful flagship publication.

I really thank my colleagues who played a very active and decisive role in coordinating with all the partners and experts.

FAO is your Organization. Once we make FAO stronger, you will feel proud.

Thank you.