• The “blue” or aquatic foods sector is often overlooked as a climate strategy, despite its potential to help meet demand for protein with a smaller environmental footprint, fisheries ministers from Brazil and Portugal argue in a new op-ed at Mongabay.
• Many blue foods generate minimal carbon emissions and use modest amounts of feed, land, and freshwater, and their increased consumption could cut global CO₂ emissions by a gigaton or more, annually.
• “Brazil and Portugal stand ready to champion global efforts to harness and safeguard blue foods for climate mitigation and adaptation strategies, generating multiple benefits across sustainable development goals. We call on more countries to implement measures across the blue food sector that strengthen food security and climate strategies at COP30 and beyond,” the authors write.
• This post is a commentary. The views expressed are those of the authors, not necessarily of Mongabay.

As two coastal countries connected by the Atlantic Ocean and five centuries of shared history, Brazil and Portugal have long appreciated the value of “blue” or aquatic foods, including our shared love of bacalhau, or salt cod.

Portugal ranks third in the world and first in the EU for per capita fish and seafood consumption, while in Brazil, aquatic foods support more than three million livelihoods, with consumption of whole, raw fish reaching as much as 800 grams per day in the Amazon, which is hosting the UN climate talks for the first time in its gateway city of Belém.

But as our global food system comes under increasing pressure, from climate change to shifting diets, we also share the recognition that blue foods play a crucial role in building more resilient, adaptive, and nutritionally balanced food systems.

Fishing vessels like this provide much of the world’s ‘blue’ foods but are only a portion of the overall picture. Image by Nicolas Job / Ocean Image Bank.

The blue food sector, which encompasses the wild harvest and farming of fish, shellfish, seaweed, and other aquatic plants and animals, is well-known for providing rich sources of protein and essential micronutrients, such as vitamin B12, iron, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids that are crucial for combating malnutrition, which affects more than two billion people worldwide.

However, this sector is often overlooked as a climate strategy despite its potential to help meet demand for animal-source food with a smaller environmental footprint. Many blue foods generate minimal greenhouse gas emissions and use modest amounts of feed, land, and freshwater. By increasing the consumption of blue foods, global CO₂ emissions could be cut by up to 1.06 gigatons each year by 2050, mitigating emissions equivalent to three million round-trip transatlantic flights.

While a growing number of countries are including blue foods in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), more than one third of countries have not, which represents a missed opportunity for meeting climate and food and nutrition security goals.

As the COP30 climate conference begins this week, blue foods will feature prominently in the Climate Action Agenda for the first time. A dedicated event program will showcase initiatives implemented in fisheries and aquaculture sectors around the world to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support fisherfolks’ adaptive responses to climate change. The COP provides ample opportunities for countries to share and adopt best practices for integrating the blue food sector into climate strategies, as supported by a recently published guide on policy options.

Aquaculture operations that grow shellfish like this oyster farm in France supply highly sustainable marine protein for an eager market. Image courtesy of Nicolas Job / Ocean Image Bank.

In addition, the Green Climate Fund, the Global Environment Facility, and other global funds are increasingly investing in aquatic food production as nature-based solutions to climate challenges. Fisheries and aquaculture are also featured in several UN negotiations and implementation processes, including the Global Goal on Adaptation, the Sharm el-Sheikh Joint Work on Agriculture and Food Security, and the Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue.

Brazil also offers valuable lessons for other developing countries and emerging economies. Brazil’s integration of aquaculture and agroforestry systems, the community-led management of Amazonian pirarucu, new technologies in tropical fish and seaweed aquaculture, and shrimp farming in salinized inland areas are examples of climate solutions tailored for the reality of a tropical and megadiverse country.

As one of the world’s largest livestock producers, Brazil also demonstrates that balancing terrestrial and aquatic productions is a strategic way to advance food security, nutrition, and social inclusion, all while promoting the sustainable use of its natural resources and ecosystem services.

Meanwhile, Portugal is complementing this approach by helping to advance a workplan as part of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy. The plan involves forming cross-sectoral coalitions that bring together fisheries, climate, and food security leaders to incorporate blue foods consistently across climate and food security strategies and promote integrated policies. It is also guiding the reform of Regional Fishery Management Organizations to strengthen governance and sustain shared marine resources in international waters.

Artisanal fishers set a net off the coast of Grenada in the Caribbean Sea. Image by Hugh Whyte / Ocean Image Bank.

Portugal is committed to integrating this plan at a national level. It is currently advancing the definition of its marine protected areas network with fishing communities to promote sustainable practices in the blue sector. Recently, the country also carried out a campaign to retrieve plastic-based fishery gear from the sea and reduce marine pollution.

We hope these examples can inspire other countries to make use of and protect blue foods to meet global climate targets. Countries can map emissions and nutritional contributions of their blue food sectors, identifying opportunities to transition toward low-impact species and technologies. And they can reform financial assistance that incentivizes overfishing or high-emission aquaculture practices and redirect them toward sustainable feed, renewable energy use, and habitat restoration.

As COP30 gets under way, Brazil and Portugal stand ready to champion global efforts to harness and safeguard blue foods for climate mitigation and adaptation strategies, generating multiple benefits across sustainable development goals.

We call on more countries to implement measures across the blue food sector that strengthen food security and climate strategies at COP30 and beyond.

André de Paula* is Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Brazil. Salvador Malheiro is Secretary of State for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs of Portugal. *

Related audio from Mongabay’s podcast:* Top author and entrepreneur Paul Hawken discusses his new book, “Carbon: The Book of Life,” and argues that how the climate movement discusses climate change can alienate the public while failing to communicate its complexity, listen here:*

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Citation:

Golden, C.D., Koehn, J.Z., Shepon, A. et al. Aquatic foods to nourish nations. Nature 598, 315–320 (2021). doi:10.1038/s41586-021-03917-1