Core characteristics of the FiTI

Fisheries management

The FiTI focuses on public access to information for 12 thematic areas of marine capture fisheries, such as fishing licenses, vessel registry, catch data, subsidies and beneficial ownership.

Collective action

Transparency needs trust! This is why the FiTI is implemented through National Multi-Stakeholder Groups, equally represented by government, companies and civil society.

Visibility & Usability

Transparency requires a two-sided approach: making data available in the public domain, and ensuring that stakeholders can draw reliable conclusions from it.

Progressive improvement

Countries are not expected to have complete data for every thematic area from the beginning. Instead, public authorities must disclose the information they have, and where important gaps exist, demonstrate improvements over time.

Quality at source

The FiTI does not replace or duplicate existing government systems. Instead, the need for national authorities to develop and strengthen their own systems for collecting and publishing information online is emphasised.

Robust assurance

The FiTI International Board undertakes regular evaluations to verify compliance of all participating countries against the FiTI Standard. This covers the provision of FiTI Reports, the meaningful involvement of stakeholders, as well as the impact of the FiTI in the country.

FiTI Standard: Defining for the first time what information on fisheries management should be published online by governments!


The FiTI Standard is an internationally recognised framework that sets clear requirements on what is expected from countries regarding transparency in marine fisheries.
It was developed in a 2-year global consultation process with government representatives from fishing nations, industrial and artisanal fishing entities, civil society and intergovernmental organisations.

FiTI countries:

We contribute to the sustainability of marine fisheries by supporting the following countries to enhance the accessibility, credibility and usability of national fisheries management information.

News, Updates, Blogs

Strengthening Fisheries Governance: Collaboration Across Regions

On 19 November 2024, stakeholders from Seychelles and Cabo Verde engaged in a groundbreaking virtual exchange organized for their respective Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) National Leads and Secretariats. This first-of-its-kind meeting facilitated the sharing of experiences and lessons from their FiTI implementation journeys. By focusing on successes, challenges, and shared solutions, the session highlighted the […]

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OACPS calls on Member States to enhance fisheries transparency through the FiTI

The 8th Conference of Ministers Responsible for Oceans, Inland Waters, and Fisheries from the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) convened on 11 September 2024 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and concluded with an outcome Declaration calling upon its members States to, inter alia, “enhance the transparency of national fisheries management information, drawing […]

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FiTI in numbers:

12

Governments committed to implement the FiTI Standard

11

Annual FiTI Reports published by National Multi-Stakeholder Groups

81

Stakeholders engaged in National Multi-Stakeholder Groups

2

FiTI implementing countries validated for compliance against FiTI Standard

10

transparency briefings (short 'tBriefs') published in English, French, Spanish

11

TAKING STOCK country transparency assessments conducted

Testimonials