The 2021 COFI Declaration for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture aims to acknowledge the achievements of the fisheries and aquaculture in the past 25 years, and to gather collective momentum in tackling the challenges and opportunities to secure the long-term sustainability of the sector. We need to take action to ensure that our aquatic food systems are resilient and meet growing demand for nutritious, safe and affordable food while maintaining sustainable ecosystems, economies and societies that leave no one behind.