How can we better utilize the seas and oceans for human food production?

Research Infrastructure for Food, Nutrition and Health blog - This blog was written by Jaap van der Meer and Saskia Visser The seas and oceans are considered as a great underutilized source of human food and some recent reports* suggest that marine food production can be increased substantially. In one of our previous blogs we stated that the marine food chain is already very efficient and that ecological limits should be considered. So what are the best ways to increase food production while taking into account the ecological limits? A group of researchers from EFARO**, the European Fisheries and Aquaculture Research Organisations, are presently considering the various options. A final report is expected at the end of the year. Here, we offer a first impression. About forty years ago almost all fish and seafood (including freshwater species) on your plate was captured in the wild (Fig. Global capture production in marine and inland waters was about 78 million tonnes fresh weight in 1985.