Chapter 07: Marine Food Security Challenges and Policy Responses in Developing Countries: Comparative Evidence from Indonesia, India, and Tanzania: Marine food security challenges and policy responses

Marine food systems are a critical component of global food and nutrition security, providing essential animal protein, micronutrients, livelihoods, and economic opportunities for hundreds of millions of people, particularly in developing coastal and island nations. Despite their significance, they remain underrepresented in conventional food security assessments, which are largely centered on terrestrial agriculture. Growing demand for nutrient-rich “blue foods” and the relatively low environmental footprint of aquatic foods have increased the strategic importance of marine resources in sustainable food system transitions. However, marine food systems face mounting challenges from overfishing, habitat degradation, pollution, climate change, and weak governance structures that undermine sustainable resource management and equitable access. Climate-induced changes in ocean temperatures and fish distribution patterns, combined with illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, further threaten food security and livelihoods, particularly in the Global South. Comparative evidence from Indonesia, India, and Tanzania highlights shared structural constraints, including ecological stress, institutional weaknesses, and unequal access to marine resources, despite differing national contexts. At the same time, ecosystem-based fisheries management, improved aquaculture governance, climate adaptation strategies, and the expansion of sustainable seaweed farming offer promising pathways toward resilience and inclusive blue economy development. This chapter proposes the Global Marine Food Security Index (GMFSI) as an integrated conceptual framework linking ecological sustainability, nutritional outcomes, and socio-economic dimensions to better assess and guide marine food security policies. Ensuring the long-term sustainability of marine food systems will require coordinated, cross-sectoral governance approaches that prioritize environmental integrity, climate resilience, and social equity.