Strengthening the Role of Blue Foods in National Climate Planning and Action
This expert note discusses the role of blue foods in national climate planning through an analysis of 2025 round of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) from island and coastal countries. It examines how fisheries and aquaculture are reflected in climate commitments across mitigation and adaptation, as well as the extent to which countries consider equity and a range of blue food opportunities (including production, supply chains, diets and food environments, and livelihoods). It concludes with recommendations for NDC implementation and future global stocktake processes.
Blue foods are among the lowest-emitting sources of animal protein and contribute to affordable, nutritious, climate-resilient diets. In this expert note, we synthesize evidence on the opportunities blue foods offer for climate mitigation and adaptation, alongside considerations for advancing equity, and examine how they are reflected in the 2025 round of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) submitted under the Paris Agreement. We find growing recognition of blue foods in climate planning, but uneven depth and coverage of commitments. Countries predominantly frame blue foods as a sector requiring adaptation, rather than as part of a broader transition toward lower-emission food systems and diets. We also identify gaps in accountability, equity, and regional integration, particularly in Asia. To strengthen the role of blue foods in climate action, we recommend recognizing and accounting for their mitigation potential; strengthening implementation through measurable targets and sectoral policies; integrating the full blue food supply chain into climate planning; expanding access to and demand for sustainably produced blue foods; supporting equitable livelihoods; leveraging South-South learning and existing guidance; and increasing attention to blue foods in major producing regions.
Key Findings
- Blue foods are gaining recognition in climate planning. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of island and coastal countries with updated 2025 round NDCs included fisheries- or aquaculture- related actions, an increase from 41% in 2022.
- Commitments are heavily focused on adaptation, while mitigation remains overlooked. Countries primarily view blue foods as a sector that must adapt to climate change, rather than as a tool for reducing emissions and transforming food systems.
- Lower-income countries are leading on blue food climate commitments, while major producing regions lag behind. Inclusion of blue food–related actions was highest among low- and lower-middle-income countries, while integration remains low in Asia, despite the region accounting for roughly 70% of global blue food production.
- Implementation mechanisms are often missing. Most blue food commitments lack measurable targets, timelines, or policy instruments, limiting accountability and implementation.
- Supply chains and diets are largely ignored. Countries tend to focus on production, with relatively little attention to postharvest losses, processing, distribution, consumption, or food environments.
- Equity remains underrepresented. Fewer than one-quarter of blue food actions include equity as a core component, despite the importance of blue food systems for women, small-scale producers, Indigenous Peoples, and other climate-vulnerable groups.
