Recommendations made include the need: for a background study and consultation on the normative framework for fish trade and food security; for the preparation of technical guidelines on the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF), fish trade and food security; and better training to improve capacity of policy makers and technical personnel on international issues dealing with fish trade and food security.

The Experts analysed the impact of the resources situation and its sustainability on fish trade, and discussed globalization in the fisheries sector, taking into account the vertical concentration in the distribution channels and the resulting market power of retailers and supermarket companies.

The trans-disciplinary thematic areas of oceans management and policy require stocktaking of the state of knowledge on ecosystem services being derived from coastal and marine areas. Recently adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) especially Goals 14 and 15 explicitly focus on this. This Handbook brings together a carefully chosen set of world-class contributions from ecology, economics, and other development science and attempts to provide policy relevant scientific information on ecosystem services from marine and coastal ecosystems, nuances of economic valuation, relevant legal and sociological response policies for effective management of marine areas for enhanced human well being. The contributors focus on the possible nexus of science-society and science-policy with the objective of informing on decision makers of the governmental agencies, business and industry and civil society in general with respect to sustainable management of Oceans.

This report focuses primarily on the direct and indirect influences of fish trade and food security. It reviews in detail the positive and negative impacts of international fish trade on food security in low-income food-deficit countries. The main findings are that this trade has had a positive effect on food security, both through higher availability of fish for human consumption in developing countries and through higher income generated through trade. The report cautions, however, that sustainable resource management practices are a necessary condition for sustainable international trade. It also highlights the need for free and transparent trade and market policies to ensure that benefits from international trade are enjoyed by all segments of society.

The third and main section of the document discusses ways of increasing the contribution of small-scale fisheries to poverty alleviation and food security through nine main entry points. First, the paper revisits conventional fisheries policies and legislation and makes suggestions on how those can be made more pro-poor. Next, the paper emphasizes the importance of capacity building and highlights how cross-sectoral interventions can greatly improve the livelihoods of fish-dependent communities. The paper then proposes a series of broad pro-poor or pro-small-scale fisheries principles, before discussing in greater detail three of the main management instruments adopted in fisheries: (i) property right approaches; (ii) co-management; and (iii) protected areas. The next two sub-sections discuss markets and how to make them work for the poor, and the important issue of pro-poor financing systems and subsidies.

The purpose of this expert consultation was to review the draft Guidelines for Responsible Fish Trade, taking into account the current environment for the international trade in fish products, illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing (IUU), sustainability and post-harvest practices. This consultation followed on from a recommendation made by the FAO Committee on Fisheries Sub-Committee on Fish Trade (COFI:FT) at its 10th session held in 2006,

This United Nations report examines the current state of knowledge of the world's oceans, for policymakers, and provides a reference for marine science courses.