Oceanic ecosystems support livelihoods and supply food for hundreds of millions of people. But these ecosystems are deteriorating rapidly and many of the world's oceanic fisheries are in a precarious condition. In addition to well-known and pressing fishery management issues, economic globalization is connecting fisheries beyond the frontiers of the organizations responsible for their management and climate-associated changes are deeply modifying ecosystems, pushing them toward new states and no return situations. The status quo is not a sustainable option, and improved international governance is urgently needed to address this situation. Our proposition consists of an inclusive global science–policy process combining major improvements to the present governance systems, including new incentives for international cooperation and coordination, with an ambitious scientific program to help anticipate threats and opportunities and integrate complex information regarding long-term issues. It would constitute a major step toward sustainability.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	fishery management, globalization, international cooperation, sustainability
Research Division:	Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences
Research Group:	Fisheries sciences
Research Field:	Aquaculture and fisheries stock assessment
Objective Division:	Environmental Management
Objective Group:	Terrestrial systems and management
Objective Field:	Assessment and management of terrestrial ecosystems
UTAS Author:	Hobday, AJ (Dr Alistair Hobday)
ID Code:	119562
Year Published:	2013
Web of Science® Times Cited:	16
Deposited By:	Ecology and Biodiversity
Deposited On:	2017-08-02
Last Modified:	2017-10-05
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