Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
Berlin (ots)
- New EAT-Lancet report calls for transformation of global food systems
- Fish is the only animal food whose consumption should increase in certain regions
- Recommendation: Around 30g of fish per day, Germany is significantly lower at 14.7g
- Implementing the Planetary Health Diet would require a 46% annual increase in global fish production
- MSC calls for responsible fish consumption and collaboration for healthy oceans
How can the world’s population be fed healthily without exceeding the planet’s ecological limits? The new report from the EAT-Lancet Commission [1] calls for nothing less than a fundamental transformation of the world’s food systems. The way we produce and consume food today not only endangers our health and global food security, but also massively drives climate change and species loss.
30 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions come from food production
According to the commission, around 30 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions come from food production. The updated one Planetary Health Diet (PHD) [2] shows ways in which a healthy diet is possible within ecological limits: it is predominantly plant-based, but allows targeted, sustainable consumption of animal products.
Fish and seafood in particular play a central role. According to the report, they are the only animal foods whose consumption should increase in certain regions (See graphic “Global livestock and fish production: Different future scenarios in comparison” for details). The recommended consumption is around 30 grams per day – which corresponds to around two servings per week – a value that is currently not achieved in many parts of the world. Germany also has a per capita consumption of 14.7 grams per day [3]well below this recommendation. A diet that… Planetary Health Diet would require a 46% annual increase in global fish production.
Fish: healthy, ecologically beneficial – endangered
The EAT-Lancet recommendation for fish consumption is based on its health benefits – rich in omega-3 fatty acids, high-quality proteins and micronutrients – as well as the ecological benefits that are particularly evident in wild fish: a naturally renewable resource that does not require land, fertilizers, pesticides or additional feed.
But despite all the positive aspects, the production of food from the sea is already reaching its limits: According to current FAO data, 37.7% of all marine fish stocks are considered overfished – an alarming trend that has become even worse in recent years.
Nutrition of the future needs healthy oceans
“Oceans, rivers and lakes cover 71 percent of our planet, but according to the FAO they only provide around five percent of our food,” says Kathrin Runge, DACH program manager at the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). “The EAT-Lancet report shows the enormous potential our oceans have to feed the world’s population. But this can only be achieved if we act responsibly: unsustainable fishing and aquaculture endanger marine ecosystems. In order for fish and seafood to fulfill their intended role, our oceans must remain healthy and resilient. Fish stocks are productive and can feed millions of people, but only if we deal with you responsibly,” summarizes Runge.
A fair and sustainable fish supply requires clear rules, political determination and cooperation between fisheries, trade, science, NGOs and consumers. Anyone who pays attention to the blue MSC seal when purchasing is demonstrably supporting environmentally friendly fisheries and is thus making a contribution to protecting the oceans and securing global food supply.
NOTES
[1] The Eat Lancet Commission, which includes scientists from various disciplines from more than 35 countries on six continents, wants to show decision-makers ways to healthy, sustainable and fair food production and nutrition. On October 3, 2025 it published a new report. According to the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) involved, this is the most comprehensive scientific analysis of global food systems to date. The report models the changes in food production that would be needed globally to transform the food system to meet the Planetary Health Diet – a diet that is both healthy for people and sustainable for the planet. The 2025 EAT-Lancet Commission Report Launches – EAT
[2] The Planetary Health Diet is a predominantly plant-based dietary recommendation developed by the EAT-Lancet Commission that aims to enable a healthy diet for the world’s population by 2050, without exceeding the planet’s ecological limits. The Planetary Health Diet – EAT
[3] The per capita consumption of fish and seafood in Germany in 2024 was 12.8 kilograms of catch weight and 5.4 kg Product weight. The so-called Catch weight includes the entire fish – including the head, bones, skin, innards and other inedible parts – as well as parts that are lost during processing, such as filleting or cooking. The Product weight reflects the actual edible portion. Market data archive – FIZ
Press contact:
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
Gerlinde Geltinger
+49 30 609 8552 80
gerlinde.geltinger@msc.org
Original content from: Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), transmitted by news aktuell
