Related expert: Engaging national governments
Sustainable ocean governance relies on the actions of a wide range of influential stakeholders. But the role played by national governments is especially key. In charge of regulating their own waters and fishing fleets, these governments are responsible for implementing management and conservation measures and contributing to international agreements.Â
Governments all around the world have pledged to combat illegal and destructive fishing, restore marine biodiversity and safeguard 30 percent of the ocean by 2030. But doing this requires better monitoring of the ocean, reliable data, informed decision-making, greater accountability of human activities at sea—and above all, the political will to take these efforts on together. Â
We believe the key to better ocean stewardship lies with open data and increased transparency—making ocean and vessel data, along with related policies and decision-making processes, available to everyone it affects. In pursuit of this vision, we work with governments to support their adoption of open data and transparency in driving informed, equitable policies and practices that protect our ocean and those who depend on it.
Our objectives
To transform ocean management, we need governments to understand, embrace and champion the benefits of transparency and open data. Working with a range of partners—including small-scale fishers, conservation groups, the science community and media—we seek to co-develop solutions and build capacity to tackle illegal fishing and strengthen marine protection. By 2030, we aim to:
Enable 30 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Mediterranean and the Pacific to adopt transparency as a central pillar of ocean governance and share their ocean data openly, accessibly and equitably.
Support governments to improve their management of fisheries and biodiversity through use of our technology, open data and analysis.
Collaborate with government agencies to share their vessel data—including tracking data, ownership and authorizations—with Global Fishing Watch and ultimately incorporate that data into our public map to ensure open and equitable access to information.
Train and support 50 agencies and non-State partners and stakeholders—and at least 1,000 government staff—to use our tools to improve ocean governance.
