Fish accumulates high levels of toxic chemicals in their flesh and fat that are known to cause cancer and brain degeneration. Fish consumption is the sole source of human exposure to mercury that is known to cause severe health problems, including brain damage, memory loss and personality change.

International trade in fishery products has increased, together with the absolute and relative importance of aquaculture, as a source of fish production. Shrimp and salmon are two examples of species grown in developing countries that are traded internationally.

This is the fourth edition of the Youth Supplement to UNFPA's State of the World Population Report. This Youth Supplement addresses climate change and young people, through the lens of what impact climate change is predicted to have, and what that will mean for young people's lives, livelihoods, health, rights and development.

Climate change poses new challenges to the sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture systems, with serious implications for the 520 million people who depend on them for their livelihoods and the nearly 3 billion people for whom fish is an important source of animal protein.

Marine capture fisheries already facing multiple challenges due to overfishing, habitat loss and weak management are poorly positioned to cope with new problems stemming from climate change, an FAO study suggests. Small island developing states

Within the framework of its continued efforts to reduce food insecurity and alleviate poverty, the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department encourages commercial or business-oriented aquaculture as a means of increasing food availability and accessibility, employment and income, and improving national economies, especially in developing countries.