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
Effective fisheries management is essential to guarantee the environmental sustainability of fisheries and ensure equitable development for all stakeholders involved in the fisheries industry.
Today, sustainable fisheries account for approximately 0.1 percent of global GDP; in certain regions and least developed countries, this share stands at between 0.5 percent and 1.5 percent, reflecting the greater dependence of the world’s poorest on fisheries. The sustainable management of fish stocks remains crucial to ensure that fisheries continue to generate economic growth and support equitable development, meeting the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same.
As the global population continues to grow, so too does the demand for fish. Fisheries are now able to feed more people than ever before, providing livelihoods for millions worldwide while alleviating hunger and malnutrition. As fisheries and aquaculture have expanded, so too have the economic dividends from the sector and its contribution to sustained economic growth. At the global level, the value added of this sector has increased consistently by several percentage points year-on-year. This has led to a positive trend in the contribution of sustainable fisheries in regions such as Western Africa, where it rose as a proportion of GDP from 0.24 percent in 2011 to 0.34 percent in 2019.