How can seafood contribute to improved food security, public health, and sustainable food systems? Norway’s first roadmap for sustainable aquatic food systems is now bringing together efforts to strengthen the role of seafood in the food systems of the future.
The ocean is one of our most important sources of food, knowledge, and economic value. At the same time, the world faces major challenges related to food security, climate change, and population growth. That is why efforts to develop sustainable aquatic food systems are more important than ever.
– The seafood industry’s most important task is to produce food, and I want the entire food system to understand how each individual stakeholder influences the availability, food safety, healthiness, quality, price, reputation, and consumer choices related to seafood. “With this roadmap, we highlight the role of seafood in sustainable food systems and demonstrate how we are working to protect the ocean, its resources, and food security,” said Minister of Fisheries and the Ocean Marianne Sivertsen Næss in a press release.
The roadmap was presented by the Minister of Fisheries and the Ocean during Arendalsuka. The government’s new roadmap provides, for the first time, a comprehensive overview of the efforts being made to ensure that seafood contributes to sustainable food systems, both in Norway and internationally.
A Holistic Approach to Seafood
The roadmap illustrates how various measures, strategies, and processes are interconnected, and how they collectively contribute to food security, healthy nutrition, sustainable management of marine resources, and vibrant coastal communities.
The goal is to strengthen coordination across sectors and make it easier to see the connection between marine management, seafood production, public health, and emergency preparedness.
In a time marked by geopolitical uncertainty and increased focus on food security, the roadmap emphasizes the importance of robust and sustainable food systems based on renewable marine resources.
The Ocean as Part of the Solution
Norway manages some of the world’s richest marine areas and has extensive experience with sustainable harvesting and production of seafood. The roadmap highlights how this knowledge and management model can help address global challenges related to food supply and nutrition.
At the same time, the document points out that sustainable food systems are not only about how food is produced, but also about the food choices people make. Increased consumption of fish and seafood in line with dietary guidelines is highlighted as an important contribution to both public health and a more sustainable diet.
An Important Theme for One Ocean Week
One Ocean Week was established to bring together stakeholders from the fields of research, business, government, and civil society to discuss the importance of the ocean for a sustainable future. Seafood, food security, and sustainable food systems are key topics in this dialogue.
The new roadmap shows how the ocean can be part of the solution to some of the greatest challenges of our time, and underscores the need for continued collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation if the potential of aquatic food systems is to be fully realized.
Read more about the roadmap for sustainable aquatic food systems
