Indicator 14.4.1 - Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels
This indicator measures the sustainability of the world's marine capture fisheries by their abundance. A fish stock of which abundance is at or greater than the level, that can produce the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) is classified as biologically sustainable. In contrast, when abundance falls below the MSY level, the stock is considered biologically unsustainable. The indicator will measure progress towards SDG Target 14.4.
Target 14.4
By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order 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.
Indicator 14.4.1: Progress Assessment
Impact
Together with the other indicators under SDG 14, it will form a picture of marine activity giving countries intelligence on optimum levels of fishing, aquaculture expansion and fair and secure access to living aquatic resources.
Key results
The sustainability of global fishery resources continues to decline, although the rate of decline has decelerated in recent years.
Sustainability
of global fishery resources has declined from 90 percent in 1974 to 64.6
percent in 2019, while global marine fish landings have remained relatively
stable at around 80 million tonnes since 1995. More recently, fish stocks
within biologically sustainable levels contributed to 82.5 percent of the
global marine fish landings in 2019, up from 66.7 percent in 2015, when the
Agenda 2030 was adopted. Despite the continuous deterioration, the rate of
decline has slowed down in the most recent period.
Elearning
SDG Indicator 14.4.1 – Fish stocks sustainability
01/10/2021
This course focuses on SDG Indicator 14.4.1 - Fish stocks sustainability: " Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels"....
Multimedia
SDG 14 - Indicators of fish stocks, sustainability of fisheries, and illegal fishing
01/01/2019
An overview of SDG indicators 14.4.1, 14.6.1, 14.7.1, 14.b.1, measuring fish stocks, sustainability of fisheries, illegal fishing and access rights...
Tracking progress on food and agriculture-related SDG indicators (2022)
01/09/2022
Tracking progress on food and agriculture-related SDG indicators offers detailed analyses and trends on selected indicators for which...
Capacity development
17/ 11
2021
24/2
2022
Global online workshops on SDG Indicator 14.4.1 "The proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels"
Hybrid Event, 17/11/2021 - 24/02/2022
With a view to raising awareness of countries in monitoring their progress towards the achievement of the SDGs, FAO will be hosting a series of virtual regional workshops and training events in three different languages (English, Spanish, and French) to support the monitoring and reporting of SDG 14.4.1.
The overall goal of the workshops and training events is to raise awareness of the...
Methodology
Tier: I
Data
Data collection
Related publications
- The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture
- Evaluation of FAO’s support to life below water (SDG 14) (PC 137/3 Sup.1)