Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) endorses initiative bridging ocean science, aquatic food systems and nutrition
The Global Action Network on Sustainable Food from the Oceans and Inland Waters for Food Security and Nutrition welcomes the endorsement of the initiative “Bridging UN Nutrition and Ocean Science Decades” (No. 613) as a UN Ocean Decade Action and recognised contribution to the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030). The endorsement was granted by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) in May 2026.
The endorsement represents an important milestone in strengthening the links between ocean science, aquatic food systems and nutrition agendas. It provides a platform for collaboration across disciplines, sectors and countries to advance sustainable aquatic food systems for food security and nutrition.
Building bridges between two UN Decades
The Global Action Network was established under the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition and is led by Norway. Since its establishment, the Network has worked to highlight the important role of aquatic foods in achieving food security and nutrition, while promoting collaboration from healthy waters to healthy people.
The newly endorsed Decade Action creates a bridge between the Nutrition Decade and the Ocean Decade, connecting communities working across ocean science, fisheries, aquaculture, food systems, nutrition, health and environmental sustainability.
Aquatic foods – part of the solution
Aquatic foods provide essential nutrients to billions of people around the world and support livelihoods, cultures and economies. However, their role in food security and nutrition is still too often overlooked in global discussions on sustainable food systems.
By bringing together knowledge, data, innovation and diverse perspectives, the Global Action Network aims to strengthen the evidence base and accelerate action for sustainable aquatic food systems that benefit both people and the planet.
A shared responsibility
Many of the challenges we face today, including climate change, biodiversity loss, food insecurity and malnutrition, are interconnected and cannot be solved within individual sectors alone. Addressing these challenges requires stronger collaboration across science, policy, industry, civil society and local communities.
The endorsement of the Decade Action Bridging UN Nutrition and Ocean Science Decades is an important milestone, but more importantly, it creates new opportunities to strengthen knowledge, foster collaboration, and ensure that sustainable aquatic food systems are recognized as an integral part of solutions for food security and nutrition.
Through the Global Action Network, we invite partners from around the world to join us in strengthening the connections between ocean, aquatic food systems and nutrition agendas — moving from healthy waters to healthy people.
Bridging UN Nutrition and Ocean Science Decades – Ocean Decade