Rethinking fisheries declarations: A tool for integrative ecosystem-based fisheries governance

Traditionally viewed as a simple administrative tool for fisheries control, the fisheries declaration holds much greater potential when reimagined as a central mechanism for ecosystem-based and participative fisheries governance. This contribution proposes a “shift in perspective” by positioning the fisheries declaration as a lever for dialogue, resilience, and combating IUU fishing, grounded in resources, ecosystems, and local knowledge. By integrating fisheries and ocean sciences with Indigenous knowledge, the fisheries declaration becomes an essential tool for knowledge-sharing, transparency, and fostering local actors’ acceptance of regulations. It goes beyond its traditional role to support in-depth understanding of ecosystem dynamics and enable adaptive projections in response to environmental changes. This new paradigm empowers fishers as active contributors to sustainable management, engaging them in data collection and ecosystem governance. Through initiatives such as Planète Mer’s PELA-Méd program in the Mediterranean, Indigenous fishing practices in Polynesia, ICCAT’s e-BCD tool for tracking bluefin tuna, and the deployment of VISIOCaptures for vessels under 12 meters in metropolitan France and overseas territories, this approach demonstrates how fisheries declarations can create a space for dialogue and anticipation. Facilitating exchanges between scientists, managers, and fishers, the fisheries declaration enhances data quality, strengthens actor engagement, and bolsters ecosystem resilience, while contributing to the fight against IUU fishing. This contribution advocates for a transition toward a territorialized and sustainable fisheries management aligned with international sustainability goals. By placing the fisheries declaration at the heart of this forward-looking governance, we propose a new vision, grounded in field practice and supported by solid legal expertise, capable of addressing contemporary challenges in fishing and marine conservation.