Towards vibrant fish populations and sustainable fisheries that benefit all: learning from the last 30 years to inform the next 30 years.

A common goal among fisheries science professionals, stakeholders, and rights holders is to ensure the persistence and resilience of vibrant fish populations and sustainable, equitable fisheries in diverse aquatic ecosystems, from small headwater streams to offshore pelagic waters. Achieving this goal requires a complex intersection of science and management, and a recognition of the interconnections among people, place, and fish that govern these tightly coupled socioecological and sociotechnical systems. The World Fisheries Congress (WFC) convenes every four years and provides a unique global forum to debate and discuss threats, issues, and opportunities facing fish populations and fisheries.

A network of grassroots reserves protects tropical river fish diversity.

Intensive fisheries have reduced fish biodiversity and abundance in aquatic ecosystems worldwide. 'No-take' marine reserves have become a cornerstone of marine ecosystem-based fisheries management, and their benefits for adjacent fisheries are maximized when reserve design fosters synergies among nearby reserves. The applicability of this marine reserve network paradigm to riverine biodiversity and inland fisheries remains largely untested.