A Decade of Transparency – FiTI celebrates its 10-year anniversary

4 June 2025. Today, the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) celebrated a decade of promoting transparency and good governance in marine fisheries management. To mark this milestone, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the non-profit organization Bread for the World hosted a celebratory event for around 80 representatives from partner countries, civil society, small-scale fisheries, intergovernmental organisations, academia and media.

Founded in 2015 by Prof. Dr. Peter Eigen and a small team at the Germany-based Berlin Governance Platform, the FiTI has now become the default global baseline for transparency in national marine fisheries management and is already implemented in 13 countries.

In her opening remarks, the Chair of the FiTI International Board, Dr Valeria Merino, emphasized that “transparency in fisheries is not merely about publishing data; it is about accountability, trust, and inclusion. The FiTI [was] built on the conviction that without public access to credible data, there can be no fair decision-making. Without transparency, fisheries management becomes a guessing game. But with transparency, we stand a real chance of delivering sustainable outcomes.”

Dr Ariane Hildebrandt, Director-General of BMZ’s Directorate-General 1 (Global health; equality of opportunity; digital technologies; food security) highlighted that “if we are serious about ensuring the long-term sustainability of fisheries to support global nutrition security, we must begin by asking critical questions: Who is fishing? How are they fishing? What are they fishing for? For whom are they fishing, and under what conditions? That is why we are proud to support the FiTI, which enables our partner countries to improve their fisheries management and empowers vulnerable communities to take part in decision making processes.”

Ms Mareike Haase, Head of Bread for the World’s World Food Security and Social Rights Unit, echoed these remarks, emphasising that “transparency is not just about control and accountability. It opens new ways for participation, fairness, and sustainable development. It makes visible what is otherwise hidden: the achievements of small-scale fishers, the role of women, and the importance of fish for nutrition… For many people in West Africa, fish [are] the most important source of animal protein and nutrients. The nutritious small fish caught by small-scale fishers and processed by women are often the only affordable source of protein for poorer families. Knowing how much fish stays in the country and how much is exported is crucial to make sure local people have access to this vital food.”

Following the screening of a first set of congratulatory video messages from FiTI stakeholders from around the world, Mr Johann Saathoff, Parliamentary State Secretary to the BMZ, congratulated the FiTI for its accomplishments over the last decade in his keynote speech. He went on to say that the BMZ is a proud supporter of the FiTI as “one of our flagship efforts… Transparency reduces power imbalances. It allows civil society to track how resources are managed. It empowers small-scale fishers to organise, demand fair treatment, and participate meaningfully in the governance of their resources. This is the approach taken by the Fisheries Transparency Initiative. It works to ensure that fisheries management is open, accountable and inclusive, ensuring that no one is left behind. And that is why we support the FiTI and have done for many years.”

Before introducing the event’s guest of honor, FiTI founder Prof. Dr. Peter Eigen, the FiTI International Secretariat screened the video ’2015 – 2025: A decade of transparency in marine fisheries’.

Dr Merino and Mr Saathoff recognised Prof Dr Peter Eigen for his lifelong dedication to transparency and foundational role in establishing the FiTI. After receiving recognition in form of a transparent, ocean-themed globe, Prof Eigen expressed his delight about today’s 10th anniversary celebration. “I am personally deeply touched and honored to be so graciously recognized as its founder… I am proud of the development of FiTI since then. What initially looked like a very ambitious vision turned into a global force for good fisheries governance. Thank you to the team and the great institutions supporting it. I am glad to see so many of the initial believers in this room today, as well as the new leadership led by Valeria [Merino] and Sven [Biermann] and the current Board, who have steered the successful expansion process of FiTI to three continents in just a few years.”

The event also featured a multi-stakeholder panel discussion chaired by Dr Kristín Gunnarsdottir von Kistowski, Senior Fisheries Specialist at The World Bank. The panel celebrated the FiTI’s achievements over the last 10 years and reflected on what lies ahead. On the panel were Mr Roy Clarisse, Principle Secretary Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries and the Blue Economy from the Seychelles, Mr Gaoussou Gueye, President of the African Confederation of Professional Organizations of Artisanal Fisheries (CAOPA) and Ms Béatrice Gorez, Coordinator of the Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements (CFFA). All participants shared their perspectives, emphasising the importance of making information accessible to all stakeholders through local languages and popular media, as well as the need to raise public awareness about the sustainable management of our ocean resources.

Following the screening of a second round of congratulatory video messages from FiTI stakeholders, Mr Sven Biermann, Executive Director of the FiTI International Secretariat shared his views on ‘the road ahead’ for the FiTI. He reminded participants that “the FiTI is not only about changing the mindset and supporting countries in publishing fisheries data. We are all ultimately driven by a desire to contribute to sustainable fisheries. And it is here – moving from information to impact – where more work needs to be done.” Information should spark interest, questions and discussions and should support monitoring of policy implementation. He also emphasised that for FiTI’s work to reach its potential in terms of impact, “we need a broader collective approach, with stakeholders from within and outside the fisheries sector, to drive positive change.”

In his closing remarks, Mr Sebastian Unger, Deputy Director-General Marine Protection, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, shared his expectations for the upcoming UN Ocean Conference in Nice/France. He also emphasised the importance of transparency for the implementation of important international fisheries agreements, such as the 2022 WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies and the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement).