Fisheries, once a local or regional feature, have expanded to encompass large areas containing multiple regions, countries, and in some cases, the whole world. Increasingly, researchers recognize the importance of large-scale bioeconomic analyses of fisheries. Such studies are beneficial because they reveal patterns of ecologically and economically sensitivity areas to resource utilization, allowing the analysis of optimal resource allocation and use in new ways; suggest policy initiatives such as catch share and protected areas for different regions that can leverage international cooperation and coordination; and explore new research areas that can illuminate more knowledge of topics, which are currently not well understood (e.g., how ecological and financial deficits are likely to be a big burden on future generations). In recent years, there has been a marked increase in the availability and use of large-scale fisheries data. These initiatives can be particularly illuminating in developing regions (e.g., West Africa) of the world where issues of fisheries management are most important and natural resources such as fisheries can be important drivers of much-needed economic development. In this symposium, a panel of experts presents the latest findings on the impact and importance of ocean fisheries in terms of its socio-economic value around the globe.