November 2014: Empowering fishermen and local communities to co-manage fisheries, making science-based decisions, reforming public policies and harnessing the market for sustainable seafood exemplify sustainable fishing success stories, according to a ‘Theory of Change: Accelerating Global Fisheries Restoration through Collaboration,’ published by 50in10. The Theory of Change publication promotes a coordinated, holistic approach to connect and expand individual success stories to foster transitions to sustainable fishing globally, emphasizing that such an approach can provide more resilient ecosystems, increased economic opportunities and more food.

Theory of Change describes current challenges facing fisheries, changes needed to restore global fisheries and the role of 50in10 in creating the actions and networks to make such changes a reality. 50in10 developed the Theory of Change through cross-sector collaboration with diverse organizations that share an interest in helping communities transition to sustainable fisheries management.

The publication advocates four approaches to sustainable fisheries management, emphasizing change must spread fishery-by-fishery and eventually country-by-country. First, it recommends empowering local communities and fishermen and ensuring their voices in setting policy and management guidelines, including on issues of tenure or rights. Second, it argues for reforming government policies to improve fishery management, promote conditions to encourage business growth in sustainable seafood production and align economic interests with long-term fisheries sustainability. Third, the publication highlights the importance of generating scientific information, including through low-cost techniques for data limited fisheries, and using such information to shape management decisions. Finally, the report recommends creating and using market demand for sustainable seafood to drive business opportunities related to sustainably managed fisheries and better practices. The report also discusses ways to enhance private investment in fisheries, such as through promoting secure tenure, sustainable harvest levels and robust monitoring and enforcement.

The publication states that catching, processing and selling seafood generates nearly US$274 billion in gross domestic product (GDP) annually and creates over 200 million jobs and has the potential to generate an additional US$66 billion in economic gains. The publication also highlights the importance of secure tenure and monitoring and enforcement.

The 50in10 core team plans to test and refine its Theory of Change and build a portfolio of knowledge tools and fisheries projects to support cross-sector partnerships and fisheries restoration. [50in10 Press Release] [Publication: A Theory of Change: Accelerating Global Fisheries Restoration Through Collaboration]