The ocean is one of the main systems of our planetary biosphere. It accounts for almost half of the planet's biological production, but a much smaller proportion of human food – about 2% of overall calorie intake and 15% of protein intake. This is no longer tenable given the nutritional needs of a growing population and over-stretched land-based resources. At the same time, with the oceans becoming warmer and more acidic, and with a larger proportion of the planet's population moving out of poverty, the global community needs to act together to ensure that the rights of future generations to a healthy and productive ocean are not compromised. The European Commission requested scientific advice from SAM HLG on extracting more food and biomass from the oceans, in order to inform preparations for the successor of the present European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and on-going development of the overall marine policy portfolio.