Brian Barton
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is actively involved in addressing ocean pollution. FAO recognizes the importance of sustainable ocean management and has been monitoring world capture production since 1950. They play a crucial role in promoting sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, emphasizing the connection between ocean health and food security. FAO co-leads the $115 million Clean and Healthy Oceans Integrated Program, aiming to curb land-based ocean pollution through policy innovation, infrastructure investments, and nature-based solutions. The organization actively participates in events like the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference, showcasing its commitment to marine sustainability and addressing issues such as marine plastic pollution. FAO also supports small-scale fisheries, recognizing their significance in food security and coastal community livelihoods.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Role in ocean pollution | Co-leading the $115 million Clean and Healthy Oceans Integrated Program to curb land-based pollution of oceans through policy and regulatory innovation, infrastructure investments, and nature-based solutions |
| Working to reduce marine plastic pollution, ocean health risks, and promote sustainable fisheries and aquaculture | |
| Recognizes the need for sustainable management of living aquatic resources, balancing use and conservation in an economically, socially, and environmentally responsible manner | |
| Supports small-scale fisheries that are crucial to food security and livelihoods in coastal communities | |
| Monitors world capture production and assesses the status of global fisheries for biennial reporting |
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What You'll Learn
- The FAO is involved in over 80 events demonstrating its leading voice on marine and ocean issues
- The FAO co-leads the $115 million Clean and Healthy Oceans Integrated Program
- The FAO is working to reduce marine plastic pollution and improve ocean health
- The FAO is committed to ensuring sustainable fishing and the use of aquatic living resources
- The FAO is addressing financial barriers facing fishing communities
The FAO is involved in over 80 events demonstrating its leading voice on marine and ocean issues
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) played an active role in over 80 events at the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice (UNOC). This involvement demonstrated the FAO's leading voice on marine and ocean issues, with a particular focus on sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.
The FAO's extensive participation at UNOC 2025 highlighted its vision for a "Blue Transformation". This approach recognises the intrinsic link between ocean health and food security, aiming for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and improved livelihoods. The FAO emphasised the importance of aquatic food systems in achieving these goals.
The organisation co-organised a session on "Financing sustainable fisheries and aquaculture value chains" with São Tomé and Príncipe under its FISH4ACP programme. This session addressed the financial challenges faced by fishing communities and showcased practical approaches from diverse regions. The FAO also highlighted the critical role of small-scale fisheries, which support over 90% of those employed in the world's capture fisheries and provide essential nutrients to coastal communities.
In addition, the FAO played a central role in the side event "The crucial role of Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) and Regional Fisheries Bodies (RFBs) for sustainable oceans and fisheries", led by France with support from the European Commission and the Regional Fishery Body Secretariats' Network (RSN).
The FAO has also been tasked with leading the $115 million Clean and Healthy Oceans Integrated Program, in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF). This program aims to address land-based pollution, improve ocean health, and promote sustainable practices on marine habitats.
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The FAO co-leads the $115 million Clean and Healthy Oceans Integrated Program
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been actively involved in addressing ocean pollution and promoting sustainable practices. At the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice (UNOC), the FAO demonstrated its commitment to marine and ocean issues, particularly sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. The organization emphasized the intrinsic connection between ocean health and food security, aiming for a "Blue Transformation."
In line with this, the FAO is co-leading the $115 million Clean and Healthy Oceans Integrated Program. This program is a collaborative effort between the FAO, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF). It aims to tackle land-based pollution, which is a significant driver of hypoxia, or "dead zones," in the oceans. Land-based pollution results from factors such as the overuse of fertilizer, organic waste from livestock, and untreated wastewater.
The Clean and Healthy Oceans Integrated Program has set specific targets to address ocean pollution. It aims to improve sustainable practices across 200,000 hectares of landscapes and 14.3 million hectares of marine habitats. The program will focus on reducing pollution and enhancing management in more than three Large Marine Ecosystems, aiming to mitigate 5.6 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. By mapping land-based sources of ocean pollution, the program will develop solutions that benefit both human and ocean health.
The program also intends to build upon existing initiatives, such as regional multilateral development banks' work on the Blue Economy, the Green Economy, marine conservation, and wastewater infrastructure. Additionally, it will leverage the global ocean science and services of IOC-UNESCO, strengthening linkages to the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). This scientific basis will enhance the program's ability to address ocean pollution effectively.
The FAO's involvement in the Clean and Healthy Oceans Integrated Program demonstrates its commitment to protecting ocean health and promoting sustainable practices. By collaborating with partner agencies, the FAO contributes to global efforts to safeguard marine ecosystems, ensuring their resilience and ability to support human well-being and food security.
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The FAO is working to reduce marine plastic pollution and improve ocean health
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is actively working to reduce marine plastic pollution and improve ocean health. FAO recognizes the intrinsic connection between ocean health and food security and plays a crucial role in addressing the challenges facing marine ecosystems.
One of FAO's key initiatives is the $115 million Clean and Healthy Oceans Integrated Program, co-led with partner agencies. This program aims to curb land-based pollution, which includes pollution from overuse of fertilizer, organic waste from livestock, and untreated wastewater. The program will map land-based sources of ocean pollution to develop solutions, improve human and ocean health, and enhance sustainable practices on 200,000 hectares of landscapes and 14.3 million hectares of marine habitats.
FAO also emphasizes the importance of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. The organization actively promotes the sustainable management of living aquatic resources, balancing growth and conservation in both commercial and small-scale fisheries. FAO's Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, adopted in 1995, provides a framework for national and international efforts to ensure sustainable fishing practices and the use of aquatic living resources. FAO recognizes that overfishing, illegal fishing, and destructive fishing practices threaten ocean health and food security.
In addition, FAO actively participates in events and conferences to address marine pollution and ocean health. For example, at the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, FAO was involved in over 80 events, showcasing its commitment to marine sustainability and the "Blue Transformation." FAO also co-organized a session on "Financing Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Value Chains", addressing financial barriers facing fishing communities and highlighting the critical role of small-scale fisheries in providing food security and micronutrients to coastal communities.
FAO's efforts to reduce marine plastic pollution and improve ocean health are integral to its mission of securing nutritious food and resilient livelihoods for millions of people worldwide. By working with partner agencies and promoting sustainable practices, FAO is taking a leading role in safeguarding our oceans and the well-being of coastal communities.
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The FAO is committed to ensuring sustainable fishing and the use of aquatic living resources
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is committed to ensuring sustainable fishing and the use of aquatic living resources. FAO recognizes the need to balance growth and conservation in both large commercial and small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture. The Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, adopted by the FAO Conference in 1995, provides a framework for national and international efforts to ensure sustainable fishing practices.
FAO has been actively involved in various events and initiatives to promote sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. For example, at the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice (UNOC), FAO participated in over 80 events, emphasizing the ocean's role in providing nutritious food and resilient livelihoods. FAO also co-led a session on "Financing sustainable fisheries and aquaculture value chains", addressing financial barriers facing fishing communities and showcasing practical approaches to improving sustainability.
FAO played a central role in the side event "The crucial role of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) and Regional Fisheries Bodies (RFBs) for sustainable oceans and fisheries." The organization also recognizes the benefits of "rebuilding" fisheries by strengthening conservation and management mechanisms and combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The FAO Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA) aims to reduce the incentive for IUU fishing and block fishery products derived from such activities from entering national and international markets.
FAO is committed to supporting the sustainable management of living aquatic resources and balancing use and conservation in a responsible manner. The Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF Guidelines) provide principles and guidelines for securing sustainable small-scale fisheries governance and development. FAO also recognizes the importance of small-scale fisheries in providing food security and livelihoods for coastal communities.
FAO is also involved in the $115 million Clean and Healthy Oceans Integrated Program, which aims to curb land-based pollution through policy innovation, infrastructure investments, and nature-based solutions. The program will map land-based sources of ocean pollution and apply ocean science to develop solutions, improve human and ocean health, and promote sustainable practices on landscapes and marine habitats. FAO's involvement in this program demonstrates its commitment to ensuring sustainable fishing and the protection of aquatic living resources.
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The FAO is addressing financial barriers facing fishing communities
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is actively involved in addressing ocean pollution and promoting sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. FAO recognizes the importance of balancing growth and conservation in both large commercial and small-scale artisanal fisheries.
FAO plays a crucial role in addressing financial barriers facing fishing communities. At the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice (UNOC) 2025, FAO co-organized a session on "Financing sustainable fisheries and aquaculture value chains" with São Tomé and Príncipe under its FISH4ACP programme. This session addressed the financial challenges faced by fishing communities and highlighted the importance of small-scale fisheries. Practical approaches from diverse regions were presented, including efforts to unlock formal finance in São Tomé and Príncipe and improve sustainability in the Marshall Islands' tuna sector.
FAO also co-leads the $115 million Clean and Healthy Oceans Integrated Program with partner agencies. This program aims to curb land-based pollution through policy innovation, infrastructure investments, and nature-based solutions. It will map land-based sources of ocean pollution and develop solutions to improve ocean and human health. The program will improve sustainable practices on 200,000 hectares of landscapes and 14.3 million hectares of marine habitats, reduce pollution in multiple Large Marine Ecosystems, and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
In addition, FAO promotes the sustainable management of living aquatic resources and supports small-scale fisheries through initiatives such as the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries (SSF Guidelines). These guidelines provide principles and frameworks for securing sustainable small-scale fisheries governance and development, which is crucial for food security and poverty eradication in coastal communities. FAO also invites states to join the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA) to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, thereby strengthening fisheries management and governance.
FAO's efforts in addressing financial barriers facing fishing communities are aligned with its vision for a "Blue Transformation," positioning aquatic food systems as vital for achieving better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and improved livelihoods for coastal communities dependent on fisheries.
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Frequently asked questions
The FAO is actively involved in tackling ocean pollution, co-leading the $115 million Clean and Healthy Oceans Integrated Program. This program aims to reduce land-based pollution, improve ocean health, and promote sustainable practices.
The program aims to improve sustainable practices on 200,000 hectares of landscapes and 14.3 million hectares of marine habitats. It also aims to reduce pollution and improve management in more than three Large Marine Ecosystems and mitigate 5.6 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
The FAO will work with partner agencies to address ocean pollution through policy and regulatory innovation, infrastructure investments, and nature-based solutions. They will also map land-based sources of ocean pollution and apply ocean science to develop solutions, strengthening support for small-scale fisheries and coastal communities.
