Saving Seafood

FiTI ranks US as global leader in fisheries transparency

May 14, 2023 — The Fishery Transparency Initiative (FiTI), a global partnership aiming to increase transparency and participation in marine sustainable management among fisheries, released an assessment on 28 February labeling the U.S. as a global leader in fisheries transparency.

FiTI published the report, “Taking Stock: Online Transparency of Fisheries Management Information for the United States of America,” as part of its Taking Stock assessment series, which provides countries with an investigative analysis highlighting where their fishery transparency efforts currently stand.

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FiTI lays out case against a global fisheries transparency index

August 9, 2022 — The Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) has laid out a case against ranking fisheries transparency efforts in a global fisheries transparency index.

FiTI is a global multi-stakeholder partnership focused on increasing transparency and collaboration in marine fisheries management. It is working with governments of coastal nations around the world to produce country reports that provide a deep dive into the state of the country’s seafood sector. The first report was published in April 2021 by the Seychelles, followed by Mauritania’s report in May 2021, and subsequent reports have since been published covering Senegal, Cabo Verde, Madagascar, São Tomé and Príncipe, Ecuador, Bangladesh, and Mexico.

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Fisheries Transparency Initiative accepting nominations for board members

July 29, 2021 — The Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI), a collaborative effort among different seafood stakeholders from governments, business, and civil society, is expanding its membership and is looking for seven new international board members.

Membership in the Fisheries Transparency Initiative is open to any individual nominated by an entity from the government, business, or social sector interested in enhancing transparency and multi-stakeholder participation in fisheries, good ocean governance, or wider areas of open government and access to information.

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FiTI’s Sven Biermann sees transparency as solution to IUU problems

June 25, 2021 — The first country report on fisheries management transparency under the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) was published in April by the Seychelles, followed by Mauritania’s first report in May. Compiled to the FiTI Standard, the reports offer information on fishery access agreements, as well as other data clarifying the true state of fisheries in a particular country.

FiTI was established in 2017 with the mission of improving the sustainability of global fisheries by increasing transparency in government management of stocks. FiTI is funded by donors and subscriptions from member countries. FiTI Executive Director Sven Biermann spoke with SeafoodSource about the initiative and its progress.

SeafoodSource: Why is the publication of the FiTI country report on the Seychelles important?

Biermann: The first report provides a global model and shows that it can be done. Transparency is sometimes difficult to sell. So other countries that have doubts will see this leading example and hopefully follow. The report raises the profile of the fishery sector in the country. A lot of small-island developing states depend on tourism. The FiTI report shows the importance of fisheries, not just from an economic point of view, but also for employment, the role of women, food, and nutrition. Thus, it demonstrates the crucial importance of fisheries for well-being, and this is often not appreciated.

Read the full story at Seafood Source