Strengthening Sustainable Fisheries in National Biodiversity Plans
Fisheries sit at the heart of the biodiversity challenge. Overfishing remains one of the leading drivers of marine biodiversity loss, yet sustainable fisheries management is also one of the most powerful tools we have for restoring ocean health, supporting food security and building resilience.
As countries update their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), how are they positioning fisheries, and what does that tell us about our chances of success? This event will launch new analysis from WRI and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) examining 812 fisheries-related commitments across 74 post-GBF NBSAPs. The analysis shows where countries are leading, where opportunities remain on implementation, governance grounding, and transparent monitoring.
Panelists will then discuss what it takes to integrate fisheries into national biodiversity strategies in practice, and how fishers and fishing communities can be brought in as essential partners. The panel will ask whether fisheries are being treated as a biodiversity solution or simply as a threat, and identify the priority actions needed to make sustainable fisheries a driver of biodiversity recovery.
Speakers:
• Ishbel Matheson, Chief Communications Officer, Marine Stewardship Council (Moderator)
• Tom Pickerell, Global Director, Ocean Program, World Resources Institute
• Kim Friedman, Senior Fishery Resources Officer, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
• Lauren Kelly, Lead Evaluation Officer, Planet, World Bank
• Maximilian Schwarz, International Affairs Officer, European Bureau for Conservation and Development
Co-organizers: World Resources Institute, Marine Stewardship Council, FAO