Brussels, 4 March 2026 – Sustainable aquatic foods are central to the future of global food security and healthy diets and FAO’s Blue Transformation that promotes the effective management of all fisheries resources, ensuring healthy stocks, sustainability, and equitable livelihoods is crucial in that context.
This was one of the key messages conveyed by FAO Brussels Director Raschad Al‑Khafaji during the event “Aquatic Foods: Bridging EU Health, Ocean and Environmental Policies in the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition”, organized by the European Bureau for Conservation and Development (EBCD) and held at the Norway House.
Al‑Khafaji reaffirmed the role of Blue Transformation as the Organization’s overarching framework for supporting sustainable aquatic food systems and biodiversity conservation. He highlighted the high nutritional value and climate‑smart potential of aquatic foods, noting how they can significantly contribute to addressing hunger and malnutrition
With stakeholders from across Europe convening in Brussels for EU Ocean Days 2026, and with aquatic food systems high on the policy agenda, Al-Khafaji underscored the pressing need to unlock the full potential of aquatic foods for sustainable, nutritious and climate‑resilient diets.
Reiterating the importance of integrating sustainable aquatic foods into healthy diets, Al‑Khafaji pointed to the central role of norms, standards and science in supporting countries to ensure productivity, safety, and sustainability of aquatic food production. He alluded to the EAF‑Nansen Programme as an outstanding example of capacity building and research, both essential to making aquatic foods part of transformative, long‑term solutions to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and tackling food security challenges.
The event brought together representatives from various services of the European Commission, Niall Gerlitz, Policy Officer from DG MARE, Gaspar Avendaño Perez, Policy Officer at DG SANTE, Leonard Mizzi, Adviser DG INTPA, as well as Julianne Williams, Technical Officer from WHO Regional Office for Europe and Elodie Champseix, Natural Resources Officer from the IUCN European Regional Office. MEP Paulo do Nascimento Cabral (EPP, Portugal) also participated as a panelist.
For more information on FAO’s Blue Transformation click here.
