Global Action Network – Sustainable Food from the Oceans and Inland Waters for Food Security and Nutrition was founded following a series of important global initiatives (CFS/GFS, ICN2, SDG), and the initiative of the Network was launched by Norway at the UN Ocean Conference 2017. The United Nations (UN) General Assembly proclaimed 2016 to 2025 to be the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition, which was extended to 2030 on 25 March 2025. A FAO/WHO work programme has been issued to follow up on the Nutrition Decade. Sustainable, resilient food systems for healthy diets are one of the six action areas. The programme encourages member states to create action networks, and the Global Action Network was the first action network established under the Nutrition Decade.
Our Structure
TaskForce
The Global Action Network receives valuable input from an international TaskForce. TaskForce plans and prepares Network activities. Participant involvement and expertise are valuable in shaping the direction and success of our collective initiatives within the Network. Together, we work collaboratively to address challenges and make meaningful progress in achieving our shared mission. TaskForce has quarterly and ad-hoc digital meetings. TaskForce is composed of participants from the Global Action Network, including country representatives and multiple stakeholder groups.
Members:
- Anita Utheim Iversen | Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries – Leader & Network head
- Jón Erlingur Jónasson | Aquatic Blue Food Coalition & Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs
- Shakuntala Thilsted | Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)
- Mathilda Steiner | University of Ghana
- Richard Abila | International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
- Illias Grampas | European Bureau for Conservation and Development (EBCD)
- Despina Symons | European Bureau for Conservation and Development (EBCD)
- Subha Bhassu | University of Malaysia
- Ivo Demmers | Netherlands Food Partnership (NFP)
- Jorn Schmidt | WorldFish
- Illisriyani Ismail | Universiti Sains Malaysia
- Paula Cristina Francisco Coelho | State for Climate Action and Sustainable Development, Angola
- Peter Haugen | Institute of Marine Research, Norway (IMR) – Working group leader
- Yuko Nanjo | Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries & Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) – Working group leader
- Nina Liland | Institute of Marine Research, Norway (IMR) – Working group leader
- Maria Wik Markhus | Institute of Marine Research, Norway (IMR) – Secretariat
- Rita Hannisdal | Institute of Marine Research, Norway (IMR) – Secretariat
- Livar Frøyland | Institute of Marine Research, Norway (IMR)
- Gro-Ingunn Hemre | Institute of Marine Research, Norway (IMR)
Memers:
- Anita Utheim Iversen | Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries – Leader & Network head
- Stefán Jón Hafstein | Aquatic Blue Food Coalition & Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs
- Shakuntala Thilsted | Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)
- Mathilda Steiner | University of Ghana
- Richard Abila | International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
- Illias Grampas | European Bureau for Conservation and Development (EBCD)
- Despina Symons | European Bureau for Conservation and Development (EBCD)
- Subha Bhassu | University of Malaysia
- Ivo Demmers | Netherlands Food Partnership (NFP)
- Peter Haugen | Institute of Marine Research, Norway (IMR) – Working group leader
- Yuko Nanjo | Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries & Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) – Working group leader
- Nina Liland | Institute of Marine Research, Norway (IMR) – Working group leader
- Johanne Nordby Fremstad | Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) – Working group leader
- Nina Kristin Snyder | Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad)
- Maria Wik Markhus | Institute of Marine Research, Norway (IMR) – Secretariat
- Rita Hannisdal | Institute of Marine Research, Norway (IMR) – Secretariat
- Livar Frøyland | Institute of Marine Research, Norway (IMR) – Secretariat
Working Groups
The Network also invites participants to form thematic working groups on aquatic foods. In 2025, the Network has four working groups:
This working group focuses on promoting the importance of artisanal fisheries and aquaculture following the work by IYAFA.
Working group events
- Women and a Changing Tide: How to Break the Bias: Perspective from African small-scale fisheries, 8 March 2022
- Solutions for Empowering Women’s Engagement in Aquatic Food Systems: a Journey Through the Supply Chain, 11 October 2022
Working group members 2024
- Shakuntala Thilsted | Director for Nutrition, Health & Food Security Impact Platform, Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)
- Leneve Papier | Secretary General at the South African Network for Women – Fisheries & Aquaculture
- Nicole Franz | Fisheries Planning Officer at the Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy and Resources Division of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
- Molly Ahern | Food Security and Nutrition Specialist at the Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy and Resources Division of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
- Francisco Mari | Senior Policy Officer for World Food Security, Agritrade and Maritime Affairs, Brot fuer die welt, Germany
- Daniel Adjei-Boateng | Lecturer in Fisheries and Aquaculture, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
- Esperanza Silva | Oficial de Programas de Pesca e Aquicultura, Ministério de Agricultura e Pescas, Luanda, Angola
- Moazzam Khan | Technical Advisor in Marine Fisheries, World Wildlife Fund, Pakistan (WWF)
- Vikas P A | Subject Matter Specialist in Fisheries, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, India
- Edel Oddny Elvevoll | Professor in Food Science Technology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway
- Mele Tauati | Small-Scale Fisheries Officer of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
- Hanista Jhumun-Foolheea | Technical Officer, Albion Fisheries Research Center, Mauritius
- Jovice Mkuchu | Principal Fish Technologist, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Tanzania
- Felicia Eboka | PhD Researcher in Small-Scale Fisheries Post-Harvest Technology and Quality Assurance, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
- Kafayat Fakoya | Small-Scale Fisheries Expert, Academic and Interdisciplinary Research, Gender in Fisheries and Aquaculture Section, Nigeria
- Rhoda Bianca Mkumbwa | Secretary General, AWFishNet, Malawi
This working group emphasizes the importance of considering food production from both oceans, inland waters, and land regarding contributions to food security, nutrition, biodiversity, and climate impact. Circular food production largely focuses on land-based production, but there are critical connections between aquatic and terrestrial food systems. Without a holistic approach, we risk developing separate solutions and failing to harness available opportunities. The availability of food and nutrition from nutrients accessible in the sea must be considered in an integrated manner to ensure that opportunities are not missed due to narrow perspectives.
Working group events
- One food system: Integrating terrestrial and aquatic food systems, 15 July 2024
- One food system: A paradigm shift including intersections between aquatic and terrestrial food systems, 1 July 2022
Working group members 2024
- Nina Liland | Head of Feed and Nutrition Research Group at the Institute of Marine Research, Norway (IMR) – Leader
- Andreea-Laura Cojocaru | Research Scientist at the University of Stavanger, Norway
- Sophie Ryan | Global Salmon Initiative
- Michelle Tigchelaar | Scientist at WorldFish
- Asikaralu Okafor | Operations and Program Director at Village Farmers Initiative, Nigeria
- Thiru Somasundaram | Research Fellow at NuSea.Lab, Deakin University, Australia
- Hanista Jhumun-Foolheea | Technical Officer at Albion Fisheries Research Center, Mauritius
- Geert Wiegertjes | Head of Aquaculture and Fisheries Group at Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands (WUR)
- Harriet Nketiah Birikorang | Msc. Student in Health Management in Aquaculture at Ghent University, Belgium
- Katrine Soma | Senior Scientist in Wageningen Economic Research at Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands (WUR)
- Vincent Abe-Inge | PhD. student, Department of Bioresource Engineering, McGill University, Canada
- Charles Mbauni | Chair of the Nyeri Fish Farmers Cooperative Society and Representative of FOSPA-Africa in Kenya
Following the 7th Network Meeting (October 2022), the working group on Food Composition Data was suggested. FAO is upgrading the INFOODS database, and the U-Fish database will be upgraded with better data and more species. This working group will focus on promoting the importance of food composition data for food and nutrition policies.
Working group events
- The case for aquatic blue food in achieving SDG 2 (zero hunger):
Reducing hunger and improving nutrition outcomes, 9 July 2024
Working group members 2024
- Yuko Nanjo | Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries & Food and Nutrition Division of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) – Leader
- Bridget Anna Holmes | Food and Nutrition Division of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
- Marian Kjellevold | Researcher at the Institute of Marine Research, Norway (IMR)
- Hettie Carina Schönfeldt | Professor in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa
- Kendra Byrd | Senior Research Fellow in Nutrition and Food Systems at the Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, UK
- Thiru Somasundaram | Research Fellow at the NuSea.Lab, Deakin University, Australia
- Lydia C. O’Meara | PhD Candidate in Food and Nutrition Security Initiative at the Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, UK
- Fernanda Grande | Food and Nutrition Division of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
- Doris Rittenschober | Food and Nutrition Division of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
- Molly Ahern | Food Security and Nutrition Specialist at the Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy and Resources Division of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Following the 7th Network Meeting (October 2022), this working group on Bridging the Decades was established. This working group will focus on the connection between the UN Ocean and the UN Nutrition Decade. Linking the UN Ocean Decades activities and knowledge on aquatic food-related topics (including also new food sources, low tropic aquaculture, mesopelagic, etc) to the Global Action Network, looking at possibilities and limitations.
Working group events
Working group members 2024
- Peter Haugan | Policy Director at the Institute of Marine Research, Norway (IMR) – Leader
- Niall McDonough | Director of Policy Innovation and Research Services at the Marine Institute, Ireland
- Hanista Jhumun-Foolheea | Technical Officer at Albion Fisheries Research Center, Mauritius
The Norwegian Leadership and Secretariat
Nationally, the Network is led by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, and supported by a national working group of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health and Care Services, Ministry of Climate and Environment, Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), Norwegian Food Research Institute (Nofima), Institute of Marine Research (IMR), UiT the Arctic University of Norway, and Norwegian National Council for Nutrition. The Institute of Marine Research (IMR) also provides secretarial and technical assistance for meetings and events.
The secretariat team 2025 consists of:
- Anita Utheim Iversen | Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries – Network head
- Maria Wik Markhus | Institute of Marine Research, Norway (IMR) – Secretariat lead
- Rita Hannisdal | Institute of Marine Research, Norway (IMR)
- Mike Yiou Zhu | Institute of Marine Research, Norway (IMR)
- Livar Frøyland | Institute of Marine Research, Norway (IMR)
