Trends in global fisheries and the major international instruments for the management of ocean fisheries (e.g. UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, FAO Compliance Agreement, UN Fish Stocks Agreement, FAO code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, FAO International Plans of Action and World Summit for Sustainable Development) will be explained. Objectives and functions of some Regional fisheries bodies, e.g. CECAF, WACAF, ICCAT, ICES, CIFA, will be discussed. The global challenge of IUU will be emphasised.