Most of the world’s wild fisheries could be at healthy levels in just 10 years, and global fish populations could greatly increase by 2050 with better fishing approaches, according to a new study co-authored by University of Washington researchers.

The new report, published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, also explains how the world’s fisheries could produce more seafood and increase profits for fishermen by 204 percent by the year 2050, if reforms such as secure fishing rights are implemented now.

“We’ve uncovered a really important insight: there is urgency and tremendous upside in reforming thousands of fisheries around the world,” said Ray Hilborn, a co-author and UW professor aquatic and fishery sciences.

“The research adds to the body of work that shows that most of the world’s large fisheries are doing relatively well, but it emphasizes the critical need to rebuild fisheries that millions of fishermen and their families depend on for food and livelihoods, most of which are in the developing world.”