Currently, there are still 815 million people who do not have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food, particularly among the most vulnerable in fragile countries. Hunger and undernutrition affect not just the individual; they also impose a serious economic burden on communities and the sustainable development of countries as a whole. Food and nutrition security are therefore a key priority of EU development cooperation. The EU is the world’s largest donor on food security with an average of over EUR 1.4 billion allocated every year for food and nutrition security, sustainableagriculture and fisheries. Fisheries and aquaculture can play an essential role in fighting undernutrition and poor nutrition, as fish contributes directly to the diet of populations in developing countries. Fish is a source of protein — it accounts for about 17 % of the global population’s intake of animal protein. In West Africa, Asian coastal countries and many small island states, the proportion of total dietary protein from fish can reach 60 % or more. But fish is more than just a source of animal protein. Fish also contains micronutrients and fatty acids that are essential for the diet of vulnerable populations, particularly children and pregnant women. The Second International Conference on Nutrition confirmed the importance of fish and seafood as a source of nutrition and health for many coastal communities, and especially during the critical Window of Opportunity for preventing malnutrition that exists during the 1,000 days between conception and a child’s second year of life. Fish shall therefore contribute to the EU objective to reduce the number of stunted children by 7 million by 2025. Fish is also a crucial source of revenue for populations in coastal and rural areas in developing countries. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO)3, fisheries and aquaculture support the livelihoods of some 660 to 880 million people, or 12 % of the world’s population. About 56 million people are directly engaged in the fisheries sector. In addition, many people are employed in important secondary sectors, such as handling, processing and distribution, where women represent half of those involved. Small-scale fisheries account for more than 90 % of the world’s capture fishers and fish workers and 50 % of the fish for human consumption. Finally, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture can contribute to economic growth in developing countries. Fisheries represent one of the most traded food commodities, with a share of about 36 % of total fishery and aquaculture production entering international trade and a yearly export value of more than USD 148 billion. Trade of fish and fishery products provides an important source of income for many countries, particularly developing countries