ICFA urges Member States to strengthen fisheries management at COFI‑FM, improve data, expand RFMOs and review global bottom trawling practices
ICFA Welcomes FAO Sub‑Committee Meeting in Reykjavik
The International Coalition of Fisheries Associations has welcomed the forthcoming FAO Committee on Fisheries, Fisheries Management Sub‑Committee meeting, which takes place in Reykjavik from 23 to 27 February 2026.
The coalition says the session comes at a critical moment, as global fisheries continue to face rising pressures from climate change, weak data and limited management capacity.
ICFA states that despite progress in many regions, significant gaps remain. These include substantial weaknesses in scientific information, uneven regional oversight, and limited institutional resources in states responsible for large sections of global fisheries. The coalition argues that these challenges must be addressed urgently to ensure long‑term sustainability and food security.
Call for All Fisheries to Come Under Effective Management
In its formal statement, ICFA urges Member States to work collaboratively to bring all fisheries under effective management. It says governments should incentivise innovation in fishing technologies, support improvements in fishing practices, and develop partnerships across relevant sectors to strengthen scientific data collection and analysis.
The coalition supports enhanced FAO assistance to help Member States facing capacity limitations, particularly where data gaps undermine the ability to manage stocks responsibly. ICFA also calls for stronger regional cooperation in multispecies fisheries management and backs the establishment of a new Regional Fisheries Management Organisation for the southwest Atlantic.
ICFA encourages countries to improve reporting to the FAO Global Record so that global institutions can better support implementation of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.
Integrating Social Dimensions Into Fisheries Management Tools
ICFA supports the development of new policy and technical guidance to incorporate social considerations into fisheries management, including eco‑labelling schemes. The organisation says this is increasingly important in data‑poor contexts, where credible social and governance indicators can help ensure responsible seafood production and fair treatment of workers.
Coalition Calls for Independent Review of Bottom Trawling
Beyond the immediate COFI‑FM agenda, ICFA raises wider concerns about the global debate on bottom trawling. It says the issue has become a proxy for broader tensions involving conservation, climate commitments, food production and social equity. According to the coalition, public perception has grown increasingly negative and emotional, while expert and industry views tend to be more conditional and focused on management solutions.
To restore clarity and inform future policy, ICFA is calling for an independent global review of the scientific evidence on bottom trawling. The proposed review would assess its ecological footprint, benthic impacts, carbon emissions, bycatch, technological advances and its contribution to global protein supply.
Strengthening Oversight in Deep‑Sea Areas
ICFA notes that more than 80 percent of deep‑sea areas regulated by RFMOs are already closed to bottom fishing, and that only a small fraction of global marine capture occurs in high seas regions outside RFMO mandates. Most of this activity takes place in the southwest Atlantic. The coalition argues that establishing regional cooperation, transparent reporting and management measures in these areas must become a priority for the international community.
Effective Management Essential for Stock Recovery and Food Security
ICFA Board Chair Ivan López Van de Veen emphasised that where fisheries are properly managed, stocks show clear signs of recovery or remain at healthy levels. He said strengthening fisheries management globally is essential to reversing declines and ensuring that blue foods continue to play a central role in global nutrition.
