Despite the importance of governance systems in addressing the drivers of overfishing and promoting sustainable practices, there is no global system for measuring or reporting on fisheries governance outcomes. As part of the Global Fishing Index (GFI), we aimed to fill this gap by assessing 142 coastal States against their ability to effectively regulate harvesting, end overfishing and where needed, restore marine fish stocks to sustainable levels. The GFI evaluated the current state of fisheries governance within each country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), or EEZ-equivalent waters, using a nested framework consisting of six dimensions divided into 18 attributes. These attributes were characterised using a suite of 72 indicators. Indicator-level data were collected through an online, open access questionnaire, interviews with local fisheries experts and publicly available literature. This information was then combined to determine attribute, dimension and overall assessment scores for each country. While country results were diverse, two critical gaps were identified globally: ineffective implementation of science-based management practices and an inability for key stakeholders, including local fishing communities, to effectively participate in management and decision-making processes. The GFI represents a first attempt at a global view of fisheries governance and an opportunity to reflect on common strengths, areas for improvement and lessons learnt.