 and adequate nutrition for a global population expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050.

It is in this context and with this high expectation that the 2016 edition of _The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture_ is being launched. Several recent major international developments will further strengthen its key function as a provider of informed, balanced and comprehensive analysis of global fisheries and aquaculture data and related issues.

First, the Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2), held in Rome in November 2014, adopted the Rome Declaration and the Framework for Action, whereby world leaders renewed their commitments to establish and implement policies aimed at eradicating malnutrition and transforming food systems to make nutritious diets available to all. The conference confirmed the importance of fish and seafood as a source of nutrition and health for many coastal communities that depend on their proteins and essential micronutrients, in particular for women of child-bearing age and young children. It stressed the unique window of opportunity that fisheries and aquaculture can provide for ICN2 follow-up towards achieving healthy diets. With this greater awareness of the sector's important role in nutrition comes greater responsibility for how resources are managed in order to ensure nutritious and healthy diets for all the world's citizens.

Second, on 25 September 2015, Member States of the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of 17 aspirational objectives with 169 targets expected to guide actions of governments, international agencies, civil society and other institutions over the next 15 years (2016-2030). The SDGs are the first global development push in history led by the Member States. They set out specific objectives for countries, developed and developing, to meet within a given time frame, with achievements monitored periodically to measure progress and ensure that no one is left behind. Several SDGs are directly relevant to fisheries and aquaculture and to the sustainable development of the sector, and one goal expressly focuses on the oceans (SDG 14 Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development). To achieve the global transition to sustainable development, countries are now establishing an enabling environment of policies, institutions and governance - grounded in a sound evidence-based approach that takes into account the three dimensions of sustainability (economic, social and environmental) - with closely interwoven targets. FAO and _The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture_ will play a frontline role in monitoring and reporting
and adequate nutrition for a global population expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050. 

 It is in this context and with this eminent anticipation that the 2016 edition of _ The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture _ is being launched. Several late major international developments will further tone its cardinal function as a provider of informed, balanced and comprehensive analysis of global fishery and aquaculture data and related issues. 

 First, the Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2), held in Rome in November 2014, espouse the Rome Declaration and the Framework for Action, whereby world leaders renewed their commitments to establish and enforce policies aimed at eradicating malnutrition and translate food systems to make nutritious diets available to all. The league confirmed the importance of pisces and seafood as a source of nutrition and health for many coastal communities that count on their proteins and essential micronutrients, in particular for women of child - bearing old age and young children. It stressed the unique window of opportunity that fisheries and aquaculture can provide for ICN2 follow - up towards achieving healthy diets. With this great awareness of the sector's important role in nutriment come great responsibility for how resources are managed in order to ensure nutritious and healthy diet for all the world's citizens. 

 Second, on 25 September 2015, Member States of the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of 17 aspirational objectives with 169 targets have a bun in the oven to guide actions of governments, international agency, civil club and other institutions over the next 15 years (2016 - 2030). The SDGs are the first ball-shaped development push in history led by the Member States. They set out specific objectives for countries, developed and developing, to meet within a give time frame of reference, with achievements monitor periodically to quantify progress and ensure that no one is left behind. Several SDGs are immediately relevant to fisheries and aquaculture and to the sustainable development of the sector, and one goal expressly focus on the oceans (SDG 14 Conserve and sustainably practice the oceans, seas and marine resource for sustainable development). To achieve the global transition to sustainable development, countries are nowadays establishing an enabling environment of policy, institutions and governance - grounded in a sound evidence - based approach that remove into account the three dimensions of sustainability (economic, social and environmental) - with closely interwoven targets. FAO and _ The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture _ will act a frontline function in monitoring and report
 anf adequate nutrition for a global populcrion eepected to reacf 9.7 billion by 2050.

It is in this rontwxt abd with this high expeztation tjat the 2016 ediuion of _The State of World Fishsvies cnv Aquaculture_ ix being lagnched. Several rdcznt major international developments will firhher strengtheg itx key function as a provider of informes, balanbed and comprehenxive analysis of global fidherles and aquaculturf data and tslaewd issues.

Firrt, the Second Internatjonal Conference on Nutrition (IZN2), hekd in Rome ib Nleember 2014, ado'ted tre Rome Declaration dnd the Framework for Acvion, whereby world leaderv renewed their coimitments tk establish and inpoemenj polhcier aioed av edadicahinj malnutritjon and trabsforming food systtms np make nutrifious qiqts available to all. The conference conxirjed the importance of fush and seafood as a dource of nutrition and health for many coastal communitiev thav aeptne on gyelr proteins and essential micronutrients, in pwdtocllar for women of child-bearimg abg and young chkldren. It stressed the uniqke windjw of opportunyty yhat fisheries and aquacultyre can provpde dor ICN2 follow-up tlwards achizving nealtny diets. With this greacer awzreness of hhe sectod'r important role in ngtrition comes greater res[onsibilivy fox how rerourves arq managed ln order to ensure nutrihious atd healthy diets for all the world's citizxis.

Second, on 25 Xe[tekber 2015, Meiber Xtates of the United Nationx adoptzd the 2030 Agenda fkr Susteinable Devejopment and tvg Sustainable Developient Goaos (SDGs), x set of 17 aspitational objectives with 169 targets expccted fo guide actionw od governments, imtefnaeilnel agqtcies, civil vocidty snd ogher institmtiuns pver the next 15 years (2016-2030). Ths SDGs are the firxt global eevelopmqnt push in hostory led by the Lembec Statxs. Theu sgt out specific objectives for dountries, deyeloped and dqveliping, to meec within a given time frame, with achievenents monitored pgriodically to measurg pvogress and xnsure that no mne is left behind. Swveral SDGs are dlrectly relevant to fiaheriev and aquaculture and to the sustainable development of the sector, and one goao exprxsfly focuses on yhe obeaus (XDG 14 Cjnsecvx and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resourcas for sustainable development). Tu achieve the global transition to suatainablr development, countries are now establishing an enablinn environnent kf polpdixs, institutions and boverncnce - troundee in a sound eviddncr-bwsed apprlach tkat takes into account the three eimensuojs of sustainabinity (economlc, socizl and environmental) - sith floseuy interwoven targets. FAO amd _The State of Worlg Sisheries and Qsuaculture_ woll plaj a frontline role in motitoring and reporting
and adequate nutrition for a global population reach billion by It is in high that the 2016 of _The State World Fisheries and Aquaculture_ is being Several recent major international developments will further strengthen its key function as a of informed, balanced and comprehensive analysis of global fisheries and aquaculture data and issues. the International on Nutrition (ICN2), held in Rome in November 2014, adopted the Rome Declaration and the Framework Action, whereby world leaders renewed their commitments to and implement policies aimed eradicating malnutrition and transforming food to nutritious diets to The confirmed the importance fish and seafood as a source of nutrition and health for many coastal communities that depend on proteins and in particular women child-bearing and young children. the unique window of opportunity that can provide for ICN2 follow-up towards achieving healthy With this awareness of the sector's important role nutrition comes greater responsibility for how resources are in order to ensure nutritious and healthy diets for all the world's citizens. Second, on 2015, Member States of United Nations adopted 2030 for Development the Sustainable Goals (SDGs), a set of 17 aspirational objectives with 169 targets to guide actions of governments, international agencies, civil society and over next 15 years The SDGs are the global push in history led Member They objectives countries, and developing, to meet a given time frame, with monitored periodically to measure one is left behind. Several SDGs are directly to fisheries and aquaculture and to the development of the sector, and one goal expressly focuses on the oceans 14 Conserve use the oceans, seas and marine resources for development). To achieve the transition to sustainable development, countries are now establishing an environment policies, institutions governance - grounded a sound evidence-based that takes into three dimensions sustainability social with closely interwoven targets. FAO and State World Fisheries and Aquaculture_ will a in monitoring and reporting
 and adequate nutrition for a gLobal populAtion ExpEctEd To reAch 9.7 bIllion by 2050.

It is in THis cOntext and with this high eXpectAtIOn thAT tHe 2016 ediTion of _THE STATe oF WOrLd FIsHErIes anD AqUacultuRe_ is being lAunChEd. Several recENt Major interNatIonal developMenTs will FuRthER streNgtHen itS key fuNCtion aS a provideR oF InformED, balancED AnD comPrehensive analysiS Of GLobal fisheries And aquAcULtURE daTa aNd related iSsUes.

FiRSt, the SeCOnD iNTerNAtional ConferEnce on NutriTIon (iCN2), helD iN RoME in NovEmber 2014, AdOPteD the Rome DecLaraTion and thE FrameWOrk for ACTion, wheReby woRld LeaDers REnEwEd tHeIR coMMiTmeNTs tO establiSh AnD implEmenT POLIcieS aiMed aT eradIcating malnutRitIon aND trAnsfoRming Food SyStems To make NutriTiOus diets availabLe to All. The conFerEnCe cOnFirmeD The impOrtAncE of fish And seafOOd aS a SOURcE of nutrition and heaLtH FOr Many coasTal comMUnItIEs that dePeNd oN theIR ProteIns aND eSsential MicronUTrIeNts, in paRtIcular FoR woMen Of chiLD-beaRing agE and younG chilDRen. It stressed tHE unique window OF oPPOrTUnitY thAt fisheries And aQUacuLturE CaN prOVide fOr ICN2 FoLLoW-Up towards achieving hEaLthy diEts. WiTh this greater Awareness oF THE sector's ImpoRTaNT role in nutritiOn comEs greater rESponsibiLity fOr how resOurces are MANaged in oRdeR to EnsUre NUTrItious and healTHY dieTs For all tHe wOrld's ciTizEns.

secOnd, On 25 september 2015, member StAtEs Of ThE UnIted NATions adoPtEd tHe 2030 ageNda foR sustaiNable deveLoPmENt aNd the SuSTaINAble deVeLopmEnt goAls (SDgs), a sET of 17 AspiratIonal objeCtiVEs wiTh 169 TaRgets exPected to guide AcTions of govErNmeNts, intERNational Agencies, civil society and OTher insTitUtionS oveR the next 15 yEarS (2016-2030). The SDgs aRE the fiRst gloBal deVeLopMENt pusH IN hIstOrY led by the MEMBer stateS. THey sEt out spEcific objectives foR CouNtries, developEd aNd deVELoPinG, To MEet WiTHin A GIven time frame, wiTh achievemEnTS mOnitored peRIodIcAlly to mEasure pRogreSS and ensUre that no One is left BeHind. sEVerAl SDGs are dIrectly rElevant to FIsherIEs And aqUacUlture AnD to The suStainaBLe dEveloPment oF tHe sectOr, and OnE goal expRessly focuses on the oceanS (SDG 14 CoNservE anD sustainaBly USe tHe oceans, sEas aNd marine reSouRceS for sUstAInablE devELoPmeNT). To acHievE The global TRaNsiTIOn To sustainabLE DEveLopmeNt, cOUntrieS are Now establishing an ENabling environMent OF PolIciES, insTiTutions and goveRnaNcE - GRounded iN a Sound evidenCe-based aPpROach tHat takEs into Account THE tHRee dimEnsiOns Of sustainAbiLiTY (economIc, SoCIal and EnviRoNmentaL) - with cLOselY INterwoven targets. fAO anD _tHe StaTE of world fiSheries ANd AqUaculture_ wIll play a froNtline Role In monItoring AnD reporTinG
 and adequate nutrition fo r a global  popu lat ion  e xpec tedto reach 9.7 b i llio n by 2050.

It is in t his c on t exta nd  with  this h i gh e xpe ct at ion  t h at  the201 6 editi on of _The  St at e of World F i sh eries andAqu aculture_ is  be ing la un che d . Sev era l rec ent ma j or int ernationa ld evelop m ents wi l l  f urth er strengthen its ke y  function as a  provi de r  o f inf orm ed, balanc ed  andc omprehe n si v e ana l ysis of globa l fisheries and  aquac ul tur e  dataand r el a ted  issues.

F irst , the Sec ond In t ernatio n al Conf erence  on  Nu trit i on  ( ICN 2) ,  he l dinR ome  in Nove mb er  2014 , ad o p t e d th e R omeDecla ration and th e F rame w ork  forActio n, w he rebyworldleade rs  renewed theircomm itments t o e st abl is h and implem ent  po liciesaimed a t  er ad i c a ti ng malnutrition an dt r an sforming  foods ys te m s to mak enut riti o u s die ts a v ai lable to  all.T he  c onferen ce  confi rm edthe  impo r tanc e of f ish andseafo o d as a sourceo f nutrition a n dh e al t h fo r m any coastal  com m unit iest ha t d e pendon th ei r  p r oteins and essentia lmicron utrie nts, in parti cular forw o m en of ch ild- b ea r ing age and yo ung c hildren. I t  stresse d the  uniquewindow of o pportuni tytha t f ish e r ie s and aquacul t u re c an  provid e f or ICN2  fo llo w-u p t ow ards achi eving he al th ydi ets . Wit h  this gr ea ter  a war eness of the  sect or's  i mp o rta nt role in n utri ti on  com esgr eater  res p ons ibility  for howres o urce sar e manag ed in order t oensure nut ri tio us and h ealthy d iets for all the world' s  citize ns. 

Sec ond,  on 25 Se pte mber 2 015 ,  Membe r Stat es of  t heU n itedN a ti ons  a dopted the 2 030  Agen da  for  Sustai nable Developmenta ndthe Sustainab leDeve l o pm ent Go a ls(S D Gs) , a set of 17 asp irationalob j ec tives with 169  t argetsexpecte d tog uide ac tions ofgovernmen ts , in t e rna tional age ncies, c ivil soci e ty an d  o therins tituti on s o ver t he nex t  15  year s (201 6- 2030).  TheSD Gs are t he first global develop ment p ush i n h istory le d b y  th e MemberStat es. They s etout  spec ifi c  obje ctiv e sfor count ries ,  develope d  a ndd e ve loping, tom e e t w ithin  ag iven t imeframe, with achie v ements monitor ed p e r iod ica l ly t omeasure progre ssan d ensure t ha t no one is  left be hi n d. Se veralSDGs a re dire c t ly releva nt t o f isheriesand  a q uacultu re  a n d to t he s us tainab le dev e lopm e n t of the sector,  ando n e goa l  ex press ly  focuse s  onthe oceans  (SDG 14 Co nserve  and  sust ainably  u se the  oc ea ns, seas a n d marineresou rces fo rsust ain able d evel o p ment) . To  a chi eve the g l o ba l  t ra n sit ionto su st aina ble devel o pment, c oun t ries ar enow e stabli s hi n g  an enabli ngenvir o n ment of po l icie s ,i nstit utions  and g overnan c e -  g rounded  in a  sound ev idence-ba s edap proa ch thatta kesin toac count the three  dimensi ons of s u s tainab ili t y (e c onomic ,social and e nviro nm e ntal) - w ith  closel y  in ter wov en t arg ets. FAO and _The State of Wo rldFishe r ies  andAquac ul ture_ wi l l pl ay a fro n tline role in  monitoring and rep o rtin g
 and_adequate nutrition_for a global population_expected to_reach_9.7 billion_by_2050.

It is in_this context and_with this high expectation_that the 2016_edition_of _The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture_ is being launched. Several recent major_international_developments will_further_strengthen_its key function as a_provider of informed, balanced and_comprehensive analysis_of global fisheries and aquaculture data and related_issues.

First,_the Second International_Conference on Nutrition (ICN2), held in Rome in November_2014, adopted the Rome Declaration and_the Framework for_Action,_whereby_world leaders renewed their_commitments to establish and implement policies_aimed at eradicating malnutrition and transforming_food systems to make nutritious diets available_to all. The conference confirmed the_importance of fish and seafood_as a_source of nutrition and health_for many coastal_communities that_depend on their_proteins and essential micronutrients, in particular_for women of_child-bearing age and young children. It_stressed_the unique window_of_opportunity_that fisheries_and aquaculture can_provide_for ICN2_follow-up_towards achieving healthy diets. With this_greater_awareness of the sector's important role in_nutrition comes greater responsibility_for_how resources are managed_in order to ensure nutritious_and healthy diets for all the_world's citizens.

Second,_on 25_September 2015, Member States of the United Nations adopted the 2030_Agenda for Sustainable Development and the_Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),_a set_of_17 aspirational objectives_with_169 targets_expected to guide actions of governments, international_agencies, civil_society and other institutions over the_next 15 years (2016-2030)._The_SDGs are the first global development_push in history led by the_Member States. They set out_specific_objectives_for countries, developed and developing,_to meet within a given time_frame, with achievements_monitored periodically to measure progress and ensure_that_no one is left behind. Several_SDGs_are directly relevant to fisheries and_aquaculture_and_to the sustainable development of_the sector, and one goal expressly_focuses on the oceans (SDG 14 Conserve and sustainably_use the oceans,_seas and marine resources for_sustainable_development)._To achieve the global transition to sustainable development, countries are_now establishing_an enabling environment_of policies, institutions and governance - grounded in a sound_evidence-based approach that takes into account the_three dimensions of sustainability (economic, social and environmental) - with closely_interwoven targets. FAO and _The State of World_Fisheries and Aquaculture_ will play a frontline_role in monitoring and_reporting