Four of the 19 FAO statistical areas or regions of the world’s oceans are being exploited at or very close to their maximum historical level of production while the remaining 15 are presently producing less than 90% of their historical maximum, for various reasons. Of the main world fish stocks or species groups being monitored by the FAO, 3% are appeared to be underexploited, 20% moderately exploited, 52% fully exploited, 17% overfished, 7% depleted, and 1% recovering. In the high seas the situation is a little bit more critical. While the state of exploitation of highly migratory tuna and tuna-like species is very similar to that of the world overall, the state of exploitation of highly migratory oceanic sharks appear to be more problematic, with more than half of the stocks listed as overexploited or depleted. The state of straddling stock (including high-seas stocks) is even more problematic with nearly two-thirds being classified as overexploited or depleted. Over time, the percentage of stocks maintained at maximum sustainable yield (MSY) level, or fully exploited has slightly increased since 1995, reversing the previous decreasing trend since 1974. The underexploited and moderately exploited stocks offering some potential for expansion continue to decrease steadily, while the proportion of stocks exploited beyond MSY levels and classified as overexploited, depleted, or recovering increased steadily until 1995, but apparently have leveled off and remained more or less stable at around 25% since. Even if this may be indicative that the deterioration process leading to the overexploitation of marine fishery resources has slowed down and that eventually the past trend can be reversed, there is no evidence of clear improvements in the state of exploitation of world stocks, and with 25% the proportion of stocks overexploited or depleted is still high.