As global leaders convene in Nice for the 3rd UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) this week, WorldFish is calling for a decisive shift in how we govern, invest in and value the ocean, not merely as an ecosystem to protect but as a foundation for an equitable blue economy that transforms how we nourish the world.
“Aquatic foods sustain billions, yet they remain on the margins of global ocean policy,” said Dr Essam Yassin Mohammed, Director General of WorldFish. “We cannot talk about a sustainable blue economy without talking about food, nutrition, livelihoods, and equity. It’s time to correct that imbalance.”
From coastal fisheries to regenerative aquaculture, the ocean provides a lifeline for some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. Yet the political declaration currently under negotiation still underplays this reality. While WorldFish welcomes the Zero Draft as a meaningful step forward, it argues that small-scale fisheries and aquatic food systems must be central to global ocean action.
“The ocean is a carbon sink and a biodiversity sanctuary. It also is a source of sustenance, resilience, and cultural identity,” said Dr. Jörn Schmidt, Director of Sustainable Aquatic Food Systems at WorldFish. At UNOC3, we are here to refocus attention on that reality and co-create solutions that serve both people and planet.”
WorldFish is urging governments to recognize the interdependence of food systems and ocean ecosystems in their national and international strategies, linking commitments under climate, biodiversity, and nutrition frameworks. Without greater policy coherence, the Sustainable Development Goals remain out of reach.
A key area of focus is the growing body of science showing that aquatic food systems, when well-managed, offer low-carbon, nutrient-rich, and locally adaptable solutions to global challenges. WorldFish’s work, alongside partners like FAO and Duke University, has shown that small-scale fisheries provide vital micronutrients to over three billion people and support more than 600 million livelihoods. However, these systems are rarely accounted for in national food plans, let alone climate and development financing.
WorldFish is also leading the Island Food Systems Program. The initiative supports countries like Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste to design and implement integrated food strategies rooted in local knowledge and ecosystem stewardship. These island states, often framed only in terms of vulnerability, are in fact global front-runners in reimagining food production at sea.
UNOC3 will also mark the launch of CGIAR’s Commitment to the UN Ocean Decade. The commitment outlines shared priorities across biodiversity, climate, nutrition, and inclusive innovation grounded in science and driven by partnerships.
Throughout the week, WorldFish scientists will participate in high-level dialogues on ocean governance, aquatic food innovation, and inclusive blue economies.
For interview requests or more information, contact:
On-site (Nice): Rajita Majumdar: r.majumdar@cgiar.org
Remote (Malaysia): David Wardell – d.wardell@cgiar.org