Rebuilding fisheries is an urgent task which is high on the international policy agenda. The OECD Committee for Fisheries decided to contribute to rebuilding efforts by providing an analysis of the main policy issues and challenges. The focus is on “rebuilding fisheries”, which is a broader approach than “rebuilding fish stocks” and encompasses the social, economic and environmental dimensions of fisheries. The outcome of this project is a set of principles and guidelines that can assist policy makers in their efforts to make fisheries successful. These principles and guidelines aim to ensure that rebuilding plans are examples of good governance which implies inclusiveness, empowerment, transparency, and flexibility underpinned by predictable rules and processes.