Food from the Oceans

The ocean is one of the main systems of our planetary biosphere. It accounts for almost half of the planet's biological production, but a much smaller proportion of human food – about 2% of overall calorie intake and 15% of protein intake. This is no longer tenable given the nutritional needs of a growing population and over-stretched land-based resources. At the same time, with the oceans becoming warmer and more acidic, and with a larger proportion of the planet's population moving out of poverty, the global community needs to act together to ensure that the rights of future generations to a healthy and productive ocean are not compromised.