Global Overfishing Threatens One-Third of Fish Stocks, MSC Warns on World Ocean Day

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reports that more than 35 % of the world’s fish stocks are overfished, a figure that rises by about one percentage point each year. Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) officials warned that this threatens marine ecosystems, the fishing sector and communities that rely on fish for protein. On 8 June, World Ocean Day, MSC highlighted the need for sustainable management, stronger regulations and greater consumer awareness.

A GlobeScan survey of 31 000 respondents in 23 countries found that 80 % are concerned about the state of the oceans, yet many lack basic knowledge—19 % did not know oceans cover a larger area than land and 35 % wrongly believed overfished populations cannot recover. In Poland, 28 % of respondents confused local fish origin with sustainability.

MSC cited the Iberian sardine as a positive example: after Portuguese and Spanish fishers introduced science‑based catch limits and seasonal bans, the stock grew nearly fourfold by 2025. The organization stresses that international cooperation and informed consumer choices are essential to reverse the current trends.