From 23 to 27 February 2026, Reykjavík will host the Second Session of the Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management, a key forum organized under the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) that brings together international stakeholders to address fisheries management challenges at national, regional, and global levels.

The Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management serves as a specialized platform within the FAO framework for technical and policy discussions aimed at promoting sustainable and effective fisheries governance. It was established during the Thirty-Fifth session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) to provide continued, in-depth engagement on complex fisheries issues that extend beyond the scope of regular biennial COFI meetings.

The upcoming session will take place at Reykjavík’s Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre, with plenary meetings and deliberations scheduled throughout the week.

Participation is open to all FAO Member Nations and COFI observers, with discussions held in all official FAO languages, which include Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.

Focus Areas and Agenda

Delegates will examine priority topics essential to strengthening the conservation and sustainable use of fish stocks, including:

• Evidence-based and adaptive fisheries management approaches
• Tailored strategies for data-limited and small-scale fisheries
• Enhancing governance and stakeholder participation
• Implementing international instruments to counter illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing
• Managing fleet capacity effectively and equitably
• Regional cooperation mechanisms for shared and migratory fish stocks
• Integrating social dimensions such as food security, livelihoods, gender equality, and Indigenous knowledge into management frameworks

The provisional list of working documents for the session includes analyses of current fisheries management practices, guidelines on fishing fleet capacity, and proposals to strengthen data collection and assessment systems.

Building Stronger Global Fisheries Governance

The Sub-Committee’s work contributes to advancing the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, a global framework designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of fishing resources and the communities that depend on them. Through collaboration with other COFI sub-committees and international organizations, the group seeks to generate practical recommendations that inform national policies and regional agreements.

This year’s meeting is expected to draw heightened attention to small-scale and data-limited fisheries, sectors often underrepresented in traditional management discussions but critical to food security, economic resilience, and cultural heritage across many regions.

Continuing a Global Conversation

The First Session of the Sub-Committee was held virtually in January 2024, marking the beginning of a sustained effort to deepen technical dialogue on pressing fisheries challenges. The Reykjavík meeting represents a significant step forward in building consensus and promoting collective action to improve global fisheries governance.

For more details, including registration information and a full list of session documents, visit the official FAO Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management webpage.

What is FAO?

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized UN agency that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve food security. Established in 1945, FAO works with governments, partners, and stakeholders worldwide to promote sustainable agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and rural development. Through the development of global standards, policy guidance, technical expertise, and data, FAO supports countries in managing natural resources responsibly and ensuring that food systems are sustainable, inclusive, and resilient.

Source: FAO