With leading marine scientists sounding the alarm as global oceans edge closer to a critical tipping point due to the compounding pressures of climate change, overfishing and habitat degradation, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has flagged its new survey which has 58 ocean experts worldwide, including renowned Australian marine ecologist Professor Gretta Pecl, explaining their growing concern over the future of marine ecosystems.
“Climate change is a magnifier of everything, increasing pressure on biodiversity, fisheries, and ecosystems,” said Professor Pecl, of The Biodiversity Council of Australia and the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies at UTAS. “There are big differences across regions, but Australians must realise that a healthy ocean underpins our food security, economy, and way of life.”
The release of this survey in Australia follows the conclusion of the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice, France, and coincides with the latest fisheries assessment by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which signals real progress: sustainable fishing is working, particularly where strong fisheries management is in place.
FAO’s assessment which applies a new global methodology developed by 650 experts across 92 countries, analysed more than 2,600 marine fish stocks. It found:
- 64.5% of global fish stocks are now fished within sustainable limits
- Regions with stronger management systems report significantly higher sustainability rates
- The Southwest Pacific, including Australian waters, achieved 85% sustainability
- In the Eastern Indian Ocean, 72.7% of stocks were estimated to be sustainable, though caution is advised due to limited data for some vulnerable species
“Overfishing has stabilised globally, and regions like Australia are proving that sustainable management and investment deliver real outcomes,” said Anne Gabriel, Programme Director for MSC Oceania. “This is a critical moment to scale those successes.”
At UNOC, MSC Chief Executive Rupert Howes announced an additional €5.6 million investment into the organisation’s Ocean Stewardship Fund (OSF), bringing the total commitment to more than €13.3 million since the fund’s inception in 2019. To date, the OSF has supported over 200 research and fishery improvement projects across 50 countries—including several breakthrough initiatives in Australia.
“These projects demonstrate that targeted investment can fast-track solutions that protect biodiversity, support fisheries, and sustain ocean health.” Howes said.
With regards to Australian innovation, MSC highlights that in Australia’s Northern Prawn Fishery (NPF), the long-term use and ongoing refinement of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) has successfully reduced marine turtle by-catch by up to 99%. Supported by OSF funding, the fishery is now expanding research to reduce impacts on sawfish and other vulnerable species, working closely with Indigenous communities and scientists to develop next-generation bycatch mitigation strategies.
Meanwhile, in the nation’s sub-Antarctic waters, the Australian toothfish fishery is partnering with researchers to test gear modifications aimed at reducing skate bycatch. These efforts, also funded through the OSF, are contributing to a better understanding of deepsea biodiversity while safeguarding fragile marine ecosystems.
“These examples show that with investment, innovation, and collaboration, it’s possible to harvest from the ocean without harming it,” Howes said. “Sustainable fisheries management is essential to ensure not only that the ocean can thrive but that its resources can remain available to future generations.”
With the conclusion of UNOC 2025, MSC and its partners are urging governments, including Australia, to act on the clear scientific consensus for stronger protection of marine biodiversity.
