OUR FOCUS
Sustainable Fisheries
More than 3 billion people around the world rely on seafood as their main source of protein. Now more than ever, developing Sustainable Fisheries are crucial to ensure food security and economic prosperity.
At the Waitt Institute, our team collaborates with government partners to assess the current state of fisheries and develop strategies for sustainable management. We aim to build fisheries that balance economic prosperity with environmental protection and stewardship.
Sustainable Fisheries refers to the practice of managing fishing activities in a way that respects habitats, increases catch value, protects stock, and supports fishers as well as other ocean livelihoods.
It means leaving enough fish in the ocean, respecting habitats, and ensuring people who depend on fishing can maintain their livelihoods.
BY THE NUMBERS
61.8 million people employed in the primary sector of fisheries and aquaculture
130.9 million tonnes of global aquaculture production
92.3 million tonnes of global capture fisheries
Source: FAO Report 2022
WHAT WE OFFER
Stakeholder engagement
Ecosystem management and protection
Technology integration
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Fisheries management
Bioeconomic modeling
Fisheries policy development
Responsible seafood markets
Transition fisheries assistance strategy
OUR APPROACH
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Country Scoping
Fisheries Charactarization
Fisheries Goals & Objectives
Fisheries Assessment
Fisheries Monitoring
OUR ROLE
A sustainable fishery supports the biological integrity of the exploited populations and operates with ecological responsibility, considering the health of fisheries stocks, the condition of marine ecosystems, and the socio-economic realities faced by fishing communities and national economies. It emphasizes responsible fishing techniques and efficient practices that minimize ecological impact and ensure that fisheries populations remain biologically healthy. This approach values both finfish and shellfish and the communities that rely upon these resources for their livelihoods by ethically and holistically supporting the broader community's needs.
The world faces several major global crises, including fisheries, climate, and food security. To address these challenges, the Sustainable Fisheries team blends conservation science with sustainable fisheries management and collaborates with government partners, fishing communities, and relevant stakeholders to asses the current state of fisheries and develop strategies for managing them responsibly and sustainably.
We support governments in building fisheries that balance economic prosperity with environmental protection.
RECENT WORK
Fiji's economy, employment, and food security are heavily reliant on its fisheries, which include valuable offshore tuna longline operations, more localized inshore fishing crucial for domestic consumption, and a small but developing aquaculture sector.
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The Maldives is home to one of the most sustainable fisheries in the world. Maldivians have been practicing pole and line fishing, an art of catching one fish at a time, to sustain their marine resources for centuries. Our team conducted a fisheries characterization study to better understand the current state of fisheries to help plan for the nation’s future prosperity.
Fisheries play an integral role in the economy, food security, and maritime tradition of Federated States of Micronesia and its people. We conducted a fisheries characterization study to support the government in improving the understanding of the nation’s fisheries, identify key objectives, and highlight potential opportunities to improve Sustainable Fisheries.
Marine biodiversity sustains a range of
ecosystem services that contribute
substantially to the wealth and general
well-being of people in the Azores.
The Azores Economic Valuation Study identifies the most important services provided by the marine ecosystems and quantifies their economic value.
OUR TEAM
DR. PABLO GRANADOS-DIESELDORFF
Sustainable Fisheries Director
Marine fisheries conservation and management expert with 20+ years experience government, industry, academia, and civil society.
DR. FELIPE CARVALHO
Sustainable Fisheries Manager
Marine scientist with expertise in data-poor stock assessments and sustainable fisheries management.
OUR PARTNERS
LINKS AND RESOURCES
The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture - FAO (2024)
Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries - FAO (1995)
Guide to Fisheries Science and Stock Assessments - Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (2009)
Adaptive Management of Fisheries in Response to Climate Change - FAO (2021)
A Fishery Manager's Guidebook - FAO (2009)
Managing Small-Scale Fisheries: Alternative Directions and Methods - International Development Research Centre (2001)