“It is estimated that globally, fish provides more than 3.3 billion people with 20 percent of their average per capita intake of animal proteins, reaching 50 percent or more in countries such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, the Gambia, Ghana, Indonesia, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka and several small island developing states” (The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture – FAO - 2020)

The nutritional value of fish, shellfish and algae, the prominence of small-scale fisheries in developing countries, the fast development of the aquaculture sector and the international trade dynamics confer to the fisheries and aquaculture sector the potential to significantly contribute to global food and nutrition security.

In addition, aquatic production systems have generally a lower impact on climate and the environment than other terrestrial production systems (lower carbon footprint and nitrogen and phosphorous emissions) and could play an important role in the necessary transition to sustainable food systems and healthy diet. As a follow up of the UN Food Systems Summit, a Coalition for Aquatic / Blue Foods has been set up with the ambition to realize the full potential of sustainable blue, or aquatic, foods to help end malnutrition and build nature-positive, equitable and resilient food systems.

However, some of the most pressing global challenges – including climate change, poverty, safe, nutritious and sufficient food for a population projected to reach nine billion by 2050 – can be addressed effectively only if the oceans are safe, secure, clean and sustainably managed. In 2022, the European Commission and the EU's High Representative set out a new joint communication on international ocean governance: Setting the course for a sustainable blue planet. The joint communication is an integral part of the EU's implementation of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular Sustainable Development Goal 14 on Life Below Water.

This requires to successfully address over-exploitation of natural resources, pollution of waters and the impact of climate change on the sector. This was on the agenda at the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) for “accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean”. The conference ended with a political declaration and over 800 voluntary commitments by governments, scientists, UN agencies, and civil society, untied in the aim to advance implementation of SDG 14 and connect ocean action across the 2030 Agenda.

The EU is committed to promote sustainable fisheries with non-EU countries and to strengthen fisheries governance across the globe. The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development identified conservation and sustainable use of oceans as one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 14).