A global science–policy partnership for progress toward sustainability of oceanic ecosystems and fisheries O Maury 1,2 , K Miller 3 , L Campling 4 , H Arrizabalaga 5 , O Aumont 6 , O ¨ Bodin 7 , P Guillotreau 8 , AJ Hobday 9 , F Marsac 1,2 , Z Suzuki 10 and R Murtugudde 11 Oceanic ecosystems support livelihoods and supply food for hundreds of millions of people. But these ecosystems are deteriorating rapidly and many of the world’s oceanic fisheries are in a precarious condition. In addition to well-known and pressing fishery management issues, economic globalization is connecting fisheries beyond the frontiers of the organizations responsible for their management and climate-associated changes are deeply modifying ecosystems, pushing them toward new states and no return situations. The status quo is not a sustainable option, and improved international governance is urgently needed to address this situation. Our proposition consists of an inclusive global science–policy process combining major improvements to the present governance systems, including new incentives for international cooperation and coordination, with an ambitious scientific program to help anticipate threats and opportunities and integrate complex information regarding long-term issues. It would constitute a major step toward sustainability. Addresses 1 IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le De ´ veloppement), UMR 212 EME, Se ` te, France 2 ICEMASA, Department of Oceanography, University of Cape Town, South Africa 3 National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, USA 4 School of Business and Management, Queen Mary University of London, UK 5 AZTI Tecnalia, Pasaia, Spain 6 IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le De ´ veloppement), UMR 197 LPO, Brest, France 7 Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Sweden 8 University of Nantes, LEMNA, Nantes, France 9 CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Hobart, Australia 10 National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, Shimizu, Shizuoka, Japan 11 ESSIC, University of Maryland, USA Corresponding author: Maury, O (Olivier.Maury@ird.fr) Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 2013, 5:314–319 This review comes from a themed issue on Open issue Edited by Rik Leemans and William Solecki For a complete overview see the Issue and the Editorial Available online 25th June 2013 1877-3435/$ – see front matter, # 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2013.05.008 Introduction Oceanic ecosystems provide major services, support live- lihoods and supply animal protein for hundreds of millions of people. But these ecosystems are deteriorating rapidly, as evidenced by the precarious condition of many of the world’s open ocean fisheries. Overcapacity, over- exploited fish stocks, bycatch of endangered species, illegal unregulated and unreported fishing, inequitable sharing of economic rent between rich and poor countries and unknown consequences for ecosystem functioning are pervasive [1–6]. In addition to these well-known and pressing issues, several profound and emerging chal- lenges are not currently addressed: economic globaliza- tion that is connecting fisheries beyond the frontiers of the organizations responsible for their management and climate-associated changes that are modifying ecosys- tems and pushing them toward no-analogue states with a risk of dramatic and point of no return situations [7–10]. Our vitally important oceans are threatened. Current inter- national governance efforts are wanting and major improvements are urgently needed. To this end, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon recently announced ‘The Oceans Compact’ (http://www.un.org/Depts/los/ ocean_compact/oceans_compact.htm), a new strategy for the UN system to address ocean sustainability and support the implementation of the UN Convention on the Law Of the Sea (UNCLOS). The initiative is to be applauded for the ambitious objectives promising ‘healthy oceans for prosperity’, however, it is unclear how they will be achieved. Without rapid progress and clear guidance on how to support such strategy, the political will needed to reach solutions may dissipate. Substantial improvements in ocean governance are within reach, however, and practical strategies and pathways can be devised. Our proposition consists of an inclusive global science–policy process com- bining major improvements to the present governance systems, including new incentives for international cooperation and coordination, with an ambitious scientific program to help anticipate threats and opportunities and integrate complex information regarding long-term issues. This approach would constitute a major step toward ensur- ing sustainability for harvested and non-harvested open ocean species in a rapidly changing world. Current governance issues The governance of oceanic ecosystems presently rests on myriad organizations, treaties and policy process operating at many scales, with various objectives and levels of per- ceived legitimacy. At the core of this complex governance system are intergovernmental advisory Regional Fishery Bodies (RFBs) providing advice to member governments, Available online at www.sciencedirect.com Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 2013, 5:314–319 www.sciencedirect.com