在渔业和水产养殖价值链的关键阶段，了解和确定造成粮食损失和浪费的主要原因对减少这种浪费至关重要，且这些情况可以发生在捕捞渔业、水产养殖、加工和存储、批发、运输、零售和消费各个环节。

A value chain is the full range of activities that are required to bring a product or service from its conception to the final consumers. This includes activities such as design, production, marketing, distribution and support services. Value chains include local, regional and global markets. Key activities in a fisheries value chain can include fishing, aquaculture production, processing, transport, wholesale and retail marketing.

Food loss and food waste (FLW) occurs at all levels of the fisheries and aquaculture value chain. Understanding why and identifying where FLW happens is crucial in arming decision makers with information that can reduce and prevent it. Reducing FLW is becoming increasingly more important as demand for fish as food increases.