Investing $8 billion a year in rebuilding and ‘greening’ the world’s fisheries could raise fish catches to 112 million tonnes annually while triggering benefits to industry, consumers and the global economy totalling $1.7 trillion over the next four decades. These are among the findings of a new report being compiled by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and economists, entitled Green Economy.

The report explains that the investment is needed to reduce excess capacity of fishing fleets while supporting transition for workers to other livelihoods. Some of the investment could be covered by phasing out some of the US$27 billion-worth of fishing subsides currently in place.

UNEP press release Turning the tide on falling fish stocks: UNEP-led Green Economy charts sustainable investment path

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