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.
Core characteristics of the FiTI
Transparency needs trust! This is why the FiTI is implemented through National Multi-Stakeholder Groups, equally represented by government, companies and civil society.
Transparency requires a two-sided approach: making data available in the public domain, and ensuring that stakeholders can draw reliable conclusions from it.
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.
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.
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
Angola signals strong interest in improving fisheries transparency through the FiTI
LUANDA, June 27, 2024. The FiTI International Secretariat recently met with Angola’s Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Carmen dos Santos to introduce the Fisheries Transparency Initiative’s (FiTI) mission and objectives. During the meeting, Minister dos Santos expressed enthusiasm for the FiTI, declaring that Angola will join the initiative by the end of the year.
Call for 2024 membership election to the FiTI association
The Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) is expanding its membership and is looking for seven new members who are passionate about shaping the global agenda for transparency and multi-stakeholder participation in fisheries management.
Comoros joins FiTI!
The Union of the Comoros has committed to implement the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI)! Comoros Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Environment, Tourism, and Handicrafts H.E. Houmed M’Saidie conveyed this commitment via an official letter to Dr. Valeria Merino, Chair of the FiTI International Board.
Ghana joins FiTI!
The Republic of Ghana has announced today its commitment to join the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI). The official commitment letter was handed over by Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development to the Chair of the FiTI International Board, Dr Valeria Merino, during a side event at the 36th session of the […]
Senegal must finalise the mandatory sign-up steps of the FiTI Standard or face delisting from the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI)
5 July 2024. During its 25th meeting, the FiTI International Board – the global oversight body of the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) – reviewed the lack of implementation progress in Senegal and issued a final request to the country’s national authorities to avoid delisting from the FiTI.
Mauritania reviews implementation progress, prepares for second FiTI validation
NOUAKCHOTT, June 2-11. The FiTI International Secretariat recently conducted a mission to Mauritania to support the country’s National Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) as they prepare for the nation’s second independent validation regarding the country’s progress in implementing the FiTI Standard. Regular validations of implementing countries are an essential part of the FiTI process and serve as […]
tBrief #10 – Confidentiality of fisheries information: Are there legal limits to transparency?
The argument that people have the right to information on how natural resource sectors are managed, such as fisheries, was established in Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration in 1992 and has since become a rallying cry for freedom of information advocates. The importance of public access to government information was later reiterated in the […]
FiTI in numbers:
11
Governments committed to implement the FiTI Standard
10
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
10
Country transparency assessments conducted
Testimonials
In Africa and around the world, fisheries play a crucial role in supporting livelihoods, providing employment and driving social economic development. However, the future of the world’s fisheries is seriously threatened and this global challenge is far greater than any country can handle on its own.
The Fisheries Transparency Initiative, with transparency and participation as its cornerstones, makes an invaluable contribution to safeguard what is amongst the most vital resources on the planet.
The government of Seychelles has a clear vision to make Seychelles’ fisheries the most transparent in the world.
We have nothing to hide. We have everything to share.
Reporting and transparency in all resource management has become an important requirement for most countries, and Seychelles is not an exception.
Through the Fisheries Transparency Initiative we are demonstrating our commitment to good governance and the establishment of responsive, inclusive institutions.
This is a tool for future development, and it must be our guiding principle to share all data and information on resources with all stakeholders.
For too long, we’ve been exploiting our resources beyond sustainable levels.
We must act quickly to reverse this trend and help our oceans regenerate. But this can only be achieved if governments, businesses and civil society work together and if more information on fisheries is available in the public domain.
The Fisheries Transparency Initiative, with its built-in multi-stakeholder orientation, is a unique effort to enhance the public availability of credible information for the benefit of a more sustainable management of marine fisheries.
Fisheries are a critical economic and nutritional resource for millions of people around the world.
Yet, the sustainable management of fisheries faces multiple challenges. Challenges that corruption exacerbates.
The recent Fishrot Files exposed how anonymous companies allegedly helped launder the proceeds of illegal fishing activities and to bribe government officials. It's a textbook example of how legal loopholes and secrecy jurisdictions enable corruption and environmental exploitation on a global scale. Greater transparency is vital to overcoming these challenges.
The Fisheries Transparency Initiative will make a valuable contribution to ensuring that becomes a reality.
Lack of transparency is still a major underlying factor behind many of the most negative aspects of global fisheries, including Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, fleet overcapacity, overfishing, harmful subsidies, unmonitored transshipment, fraud, corruption, inadequate or absent fisheries management.
Even after 25 years of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries calling for sustainable fisheries from a multi-dimensional angle with specific aspects involving transparency, basic information still often remains out of the public domain.
The Fisheries Transparency Initiative is a notable global effort supported by countries, the private sector, and civil society that presents a real opportunity to foster transparency and increase the credibility and quality of national fisheries information, reinforcing the basic principles of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.
Transparency and participation are key elements of good governance.
Through the FiTI, countries can not only demonstrate a clear commitment to good governance for responsible fisheries. It can also improve a country’s investment climate.
We can only address the tremendous challenges that global fisheries are facing in a collective effort, by bringing governments, business, civil society, academia and media together on this important quest.
The Fisheries Transparency Initiative makes a unique contribution to the sustainable development of fisheries by setting clear requirements on what is expected from countries regarding transparency and multi-stakeholder participation in fisheries.
I hope that many coastal countries join the FiTI and contribute to a global level playing field of transparency in marine fisheries.