The Honiara Summit, hosted by the Government of the Solomon Islands and organised together with the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the Pacific Community (SPC), and the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, was held from the 24th to the 27 February 2025 in the Solomon Islands.
The Summit brought together 5 Heads of State, 10 Ministers and over 300 global representatives of fisheries administrations, Regional Fisheries Bodies and stakeholders.
II. The Summit was an opportunity to review the status of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 14.4 and exchange good practices and lessons learned among countries and regional organisations in and outside the Pacific, with a view to accelerating progress towards achieving the target, with particular attention to Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and the Pacific region.
III. This Communiqué represents a summary of the matters discussed and actions proposed at the Summit, representing the views of a community of authoritative stakeholders.
IV. Summit focused on the themes:
a) Progress in the implementation of SDG Target 14.4.
b) The role of Regional Fishery Bodies in supporting implementation of SDG Target 14.4.
c) Pacific Islands region response to SDG Target 14.4.
d) Supporting fisheries sustainability through science.
e) Supporting fisheries sustainability through effective monitoring, control and surveillance.
f) Supporting coastal fisheries sustainability through management action.
g) Supporting fisheries sustainability through implementation of international instruments; and
h) Strengthening partnerships to implement SDG Target 14.4.
HONIARA SUMMIT OUTCOMES
1. The Honiara Summit called on participants, governments, regional and international organisations and fisheries stakeholders to carry the below outcomes into deliberations at the 2025 United Nations Oceans Conference and other relevant fora, to ensure that fisheries are firmly at the centre of conversations on conservation and sustainable development of the Ocean, Blue Economy initiatives, and Ocean’s health.
PROGRESS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SDG TARGET 14.4
2. The Summit analysed progress made toward implementing SDG Target 14.4, examining the current state of global fish stocks, and exploring how recent developments in methodologies for stock assessment and the adoption of efficient management approaches can enhance the capacity of countries in reporting and managing their fisheries sustainably.
3. The session on progress in the implementation of SDG14.4 highlighted the following:
a) Global fish stock status requires urgent attention: With 37.7 percent of global fish stocks classified as overfished, continuous efforts to improve fisheries management and restore stocks are crucial to achieve SDG Target 14.4. National reporting on fish stock status should be strengthened to better track progress toward SDG Target 14.4. Capacity developments in fisheries stock assessments and fisheries management are needed, as well as improved monitoring and reporting systems, in order to enable informed decision-making for improved outcomes.
b) Effective management leads to sustainable fisheries: Evidence shows that fish stocks under effective management are increasingly sustainable or recovering. Strengthening management systems that can adapt to changes and complexities of ecosystems across all regions for all fisheries is crucial to allow stocks to recover and increase catches within biologically sustainable levels, consistent with the expectations of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and SDG Target 14.4.
c) Precautionary approaches support sustainability: Implementing precautionary approaches that integrate local knowledge enhances resilience and supports long-term sustainability of the sector.
d) Sustainable fisheries play an important role in supporting sustainable development: Fisheries and their products contribute to achieving food security, nutrition, livelihoods and economic development, particularly in coastal communities and Small Island Developing States. It is important to ensure these contributions are maintained, in the context of a growing global population.
e) Capacity building and regional cooperation are essential: National and regional fisheries institutions play a critical role in improving data collection, stock assessments and management advice. Enhancing local capacity and knowledge sharing, particularly in regions with limited information, is key to achieving long-term sustainability of fisheries and SDG Target 14.4.
f) Technological innovation and investment are needed: Achieving SDG Target 14.4 will require increased investment in fisheries data collection and analysis, as well as technological innovations for monitoring fish stocks, particularly in regions with limited data, information and resources.
THE ROLE OF REGIONAL FISHERY BODIES IN SUPPORTING IMPLEMENTATION OF SDG TARGET 14.4
4. The Summit highlighted the vital contributions of Regional Fishery Bodies (RFBs) in sustainable fisheries management and achieving SDG Target 14.4 and discussed best practices and lessons learned in regional approaches.
5. The session on the role of RFBs in supporting the implementation of SDG Target 14.4 highlighted the following:
a) RFBs are instrumental in supporting the sustainable management and recovery of shared stocks: RFBs enable nations to work collaboratively to ensure the long-term viability of shared resources, by providing frameworks for cooperation among their members.
b) Regional cooperation on data and science underpins sustainable management of shared stocks: RFBs play a critical role in collecting, analysing and communicating essential data to support fisheries science and sustainable management. A diversity of capacity and mandates to do this exists across RFBs and their member States, including decision-making responsibilities and implementation of management measures in the case of Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs). Work with other RFBs, scientific institutions, partners and stakeholders is necessary, and opportunities to share experiences and build capacity where needed is critical.
c) Collaboration at a regional level is necessary to address complex challenges: Addressing challenges such as climate change, biodiversity conservation and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing requires robust cooperative management at a regional level. RFBs provide a vital platform for member States to exchange information, leverage and pool resources, and develop effective strategies to recover and sustain fish stocks and supporting ecosystems.
d) RFBs engagement and participation in the BBNJ Agreement will be an important foundation to implementation: RFBs manage and conserve fisheries resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction, and the engagement of RFBs in the future implementation of the Agreement under UNCLOS on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) will be critical to its success.
PACIFIC ISLANDS REGION RESPONSE TO SDG TARGET 14.4
6. Participants from the Pacific presented the regional response to SDG Target 14.4 to the Summit, drawing attention, in particular, to the success of regional cooperation in the area managed through the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), managing the largest volume of tuna catches while maintaining healthy stocks.
7. Discussions on the Pacific Islands regional response to SDG Target 14.4 highlighted the following:
a) Pacific Small Island Developing States depend on fisheries. Sustainable fisheries are critical to the livelihood of Pacific peoples and the economies of Pacific Island countries. For decades, the region has worked to strengthen their participation in fisheries and improve benefits to the region.
b) The Pacific region demonstrates leadership in fisheries governance. Pacific Leaders continue to provide guidance on the importance of ecological sustainability as well as economic sustainability. The Pacific is a global leader in the management of tuna fisheries, with the Pacific being home to the healthiest stocks of tuna in the world. WCPFC assessments of tropical tuna stocks show that they have already achieved the SDG 14.4.1 sustainability indicator.
c) Regional solidarity and cooperation provide the foundation for sustainable management of regional fisheries. With the establishment of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) 45 years ago, the FFA membership, consisting of large ocean island States, have through cooperation been able to manage its tuna resources successfully. Regional and subregional institutions that support regional fisheries initiatives of the membership include the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, the Parties to the Nauru Agreement, and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
d) The Pacific region faces challenges in ensuring fisheries sustainability. Climate change impacts, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and the complex diversity of small-scale fisheries are some of the significant challenges to fisheries sustainability. The Pacific region’s capacity to implement and socialise solutions has been hampered by the lack of streamlined access climate and development finance. The Pacific region currently receives only 0.22 percent of global climate finance, less than 20 percent of the assessed amount required for adaptation needs on an annual basis. New and additional, catalytic and risk-tolerant financing is required for critical adaptation actions.
e) Pacific efforts to generate sustainable fit-for-purpose financing. The region is seeking to accelerate resilience and sustainability action through fit-for-purpose financing arrangements. Regional financial initiatives to increase investment into the Pacific include four key endorsed arrangements: the Pacific Resilience Facility, the East New Britain initiative, Unlocking Blue Pacific Prosperity, and the Regional Programmatic Approaches to Climate Action. The Summit welcomed the Green Climate Fund’s approval of The Regional Tuna Programme: Adapting Pacific Island communities and economies to climate change, a landmark investment valued at USD$156 million designed to enhance food security amid coral reef degradation and mitigate risks from climate-driven tuna redistribution.
SUPPORTING FISHERIES SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH SCIENCE
8. Summit participants considered examples of good practice in the development and provision of scientific advice to inform the management of sustainable fisheries, illustrating how science has led the sustainable management of fishery resources, while adapting to the changing environment in which fish and fisheries operate.
9. Discussions on supporting fisheries sustainability through science highlighted the following:
a) Achieving SDG Target 14.4 requires robust science: Decision making needs to be based upon the best available scientific information on exploited stocks and the ecosystems within which they exist to ensure action is timely, effective and robust to uncertainty, especially in relation to small-scale and data-limited fisheries. Investment in long-term and fit-for-purpose data collection is needed to underpin that science, while scientific assumptions should be frequently tested.
b) Effective mechanisms to facilitate the science-policy interface are needed: Effective platforms and mechanisms are essential to facilitate ongoing dialogue between scientists and decision makers so that the scientific advice is provided in clearly understood and actionable terms that meet the needs of policy makers.
c) Changing climate and ocean conditions are significant challenges to understanding and managing fisheries: Climate change is already impacting the distribution and abundance of fish stocks in many regions, both in offshore and coastal fisheries, and the ecosystems in which they live. This adds to other anthropogenic pressures. There is a need to identify and provide proactive scientific advice on upcoming issues so that management can be planned and robust to future change, rather than reactive.
d) The scientific basis for decision-making processes needs to be strengthened, particularly in data-poor fisheries: The science to support fisheries management needs to be strengthened, including through the use of new technology, and the promotion of international scientific cooperation, especially in research, capacity-building, education and training. Mechanisms should evolve to incorporate multiple types of available information, including traditional and local knowledge and expertise. Capacity building programmes should be coordinated and targeted at the needs and priorities of developing countries, with particular attention to data-poor regions.
e) There is a need to support development of the next generation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). There is a need to ensure applied STEM training opportunities are in place to develop the next generation of scientists. Clear career pathways and mechanisms to support the development of young scientists are needed.
SUPPORTING FISHERIES SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH EFFECTIVE MONITORING, CONTROL AND SURVEILLANCE
10. The Summit discussed innovations, successes and challenges in monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) at both national and regional levels, highlighting innovative and effective mechanisms, aided by technology evolution, that are being implemented in a number of jurisdictions.
11. Discussions on supporting fisheries sustainability through effective MCS highlighted the following:
a) Global cooperation is key to MCS effectiveness: International cooperation in monitoring, control and surveillance efforts, including information sharing and joint enforcement, is needed to ensure effective management of shared stocks and fisheries in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
b) Comprehensive regulatory frameworks and international agreements are crucial: A solid regulatory framework is critical for MCS success. National, regional, and international agreements are vital in supporting enforcement and promoting cooperation for sustainable fisheries management.
c) Transparency and accountability are essential across the supply chain: Transparency and accountability in the fisheries sector, including the supply chain, are key to promoting aquatic foods from sustainably managed fisheries. Clear traceability systems and public reporting on fish stocks, fishing methods, and sustainability practices help build trust and ensure responsible sourcing of seafood.
d) Investing in technology advancement will enhance MCS systems: Advancements in technology—such as satellite tracking, real-time data monitoring, and artificial intelligence—are transforming MCS systems, making them more effective and accessible. These technologies enable more efficient data collection, monitoring, and enforcement, enhancing the ability to track fishing activities and improve sustainability outcomes globally.
SUPPORTING COASTAL FISHERIES SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH MANAGEMENT ACTION
12. The Summit drew attention to the enormous task facing developing countries particularly Small Island Developing States in assessing whether the diverse coastal fish stocks supporting small-scale fisheries are being sustainably harvested, and the need to maintain or establish socially appropriate mechanisms for assuring the precautionary management of these stocks. Discussions on supporting coastal fisheries sustainability through management action highlighted the following:
a) The status of many coastal small-scale fisheries has not yet been assessed or are poorly assessed: Coastal small-scale fisheries play a vital role in coastal food systems, and coastal communities are dependent on them for livelihoods, food security and nutrition, particularly in developing countries, however the contribution of these fisheries and the status of the stocks supporting these fisheries is often underreported and poorly understood. For example, the Pacific Island SIDS had already achieved SDG Indicator 14.4.1 by 2020 for most fish caught in the region by tonnage, but this tonnage consists of only four data-rich tropical and subtropical tuna stocks. Thousands of geographically discrete fish stocks remain to be assessed or are poorly assessed, mostly coastal, small-scale, and data poor.
b) Investment and new approaches in the assessment and management of small-scale fisheries is required to achieve SDG14.4: For the developing world, identifying the status of small-scale fisheries, and achieving the SDG Target 14.4 of restoring all fisheries to sustainable levels, will require at least as much human and financial investment in the assessment and sustainable management of small-scale fisheries as the current investment in commercial oceanic fisheries. Further innovation is required in technology, in empowerment and enforcement of community developed management regimes to ensure sustainability of interventions, co-designed with government. Activities that scale up the current potential for community-based management are being applied to most Pacific SIDS’ small-scale coastal fisheries, along with machine learning-supported monitoring and data-poor risk-assessment and stock status indicators. New efforts are required in developing coastal fisheries monitoring, control, surveillance and enforcement.
c) Regional and international programmes for data storage, analysis and advice can help with capacity challenges and support decision-making, particularly in SIDS: Many countries, particularly SIDS, can benefit from the economies of scale provided by regional and international programmes for centralised data storage, expertise in analysis, advice on turning analytical outputs into information usable by decision-makers at all levels, and to provide personal and national institutional capacity development.
SUPPORTING FISHERIES SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS
13. The Summit examined the global legal frameworks for fisheries management and complementary instruments, as well as the roles, strategies and collaborative efforts required for their effective implementation.
14. Discussions on supporting fisheries sustainability through implementation of international instruments that promote biodiversity mainstreaming highlighted the following:
a) Strong national and regional regulatory frameworks provide critical foundations: National governments and regional institutions play a vital role in embedding international commitments into national legislation, policies, and management plans. Building strong, enforceable frameworks at the national level is a foundational step toward achieving global objectives for sustainable fisheries, biodiversity conservation and food security.
b) Integrated approaches to the implementation of international instruments are essential: Achieving sustainable fisheries and biodiversity conservation requires integrated approaches across national, regional, and international levels. Coordination and collaboration among national governments, RFBs, and global organisations is critical to align food security and conservation objectives effectively, and to successfully deliver on the goals of international instruments.
c) Multilateral environmental agreements and instruments can offer transformative opportunities to achieve fisheries sustainability: International binding instruments such as the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement, the BBNJ Agreement, or the World Trade Organisation Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, and voluntary agreements such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, require significant engagement from fisheries bodies, but also provide opportunities for positive transformation. Effective implementation of these agreements can advance sustainable fisheries and biodiversity conservation while supporting food security, and swift ratification by countries will facilitate these goals being achieved.
d) Collaboration and capacity building are critical: Effective implementation hinges on enhanced collaboration and capacity-building efforts, especially in developing countries. Supporting countries in building technical, financial, and institutional capacities that help leverage opportunities for economies of scale between agreements, will enable them to meet international obligations and manage aquatic resources sustainably. Implementation and benefits must be accessible, equitable, inclusive and responsive.
e) The fisheries sector is a key partner in implementation of international instruments: Effective implementation of international biodiversity and ocean instruments requires the fisheries sector to be at the table. Sustainable fisheries management requires elevating the fisheries sector and integrating fisheries in broader planning and ocean governance frameworks and strengthening the political will and capacity to improve the implementation of existing policy frameworks.
STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS TO IMPLEMENT SDG TARGET 14.4
15. The Summit recognised the importance of partnering to implement SDG Target 14.4 to achieve the shared objective of maintaining global, regional and national fish stocks at sustainable levels.
16. Discussions on strengthening partnerships to implement SDG Target 14.4 highlighted the following:
a) Unsustainable practices such as overfishing are not compatible with achieving SDG Target 14.4: Given global commitments to protecting planetary biodiversity and future food security, overfishing is not compatible with the universally agreed target of SDG Target 14.4.
b) Sustainable and productive fisheries are crucial for a growing population: The per capita consumption of aquatic foods has doubled since the 1960s. With the human population expected to approach 10 billion people in a few decades food from the ocean has become part of the recipe for achieving a world without hunger and malnutrition.
c) IUU fishing is contributing to unsustainability and undermining responsible fisheries management efforts: IUU fishing affects the biodiversity and conservation of fish stocks and the marine environment, impacts food security and reduces the socio-economic benefits that sustainable fisheries provide. The fisheries sector, including small-scale fishers, the industrial fishing industry, the fisheries value chain and consumers of marine products must find new ways, through better cooperation at community, national, regional and international levels, to apply technological innovations and scientific evidence and work in partnership to end IUU fishing and unsustainable practices.
d) Partnerships between regional and international organisations responsible for management the ocean and its resources is required to meet international objectives for biodiversity and conservation: Partnerships between RFBs, Regional Seas Programmes, the International Seabed Authority, civil society and other multilateral organisations will be required in order to achieve global biodiversity commitments, including the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement, the BBNJ Agreement, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
e) Multi-stakeholder partnerships must be mobilised to achieve SDG Target 14.4: SDG17 calls upon us all to enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilise and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources. If the fisheries sector can find the golden mean to do so, SDG Target 14.4 can be achieved through strengthened partnerships.
