Mare People and the Sea IX: Dealing with Maritime Mobilities

Amsterdam 5-7 July, 2017

FOOD SECURITY AND THE GEOPOLITICS OF THE OCEANS

From being limited to, or associated with, the developing world, food security has come to be considered a risk in developed economies and, as a result, a
concern in security policies. Within the framework of the EU, the existence of a consolidated fisheries policy (initiated in the 1970s) and a maritime policy in
the process of being created, places food security on an indefinite and ambiguous plane: lacking relevance in the field of food In Europe but of strategic
interest in the domain of international relations: between the market and the geostrategy.
HUNGER BY COUNTRY AND PER CAPITA FOOD FISH SUPPLY FISH, FOOD AND MARITIME SPACE
INTRODUCTION

In general terms strategic maritime security documents [table] do not allude explicitly to the concept of food security but rather to the need to safeguard
vital interests related to food supply (fish, maritime traffic, port infrastructure, etc.). Those of less developed countries tend to have a more marked
economic and social bias such as Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIM Strategy).
AND MARITIME STRATEGIES
FOOD SECURITY, SECURITY

STRATEGIC MARITIME SECURITY DOCUMENTS

STRATEGIC DOCUMENTS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER YEAR

1. Australian Maritime Doctrine 2010; 1st ed. 2000
2. U.S. National Strategy for Maritime Security 2005
3. NATO Maritime Strategy 2011
4. British Maritime Doctrine 2011
5. Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy 2012
6. Estrategia de Seguridad Marítima Nacional (Spain) 2013
7. UK National Strategy for Maritime Security 2014
8. European Union Maritime Security Strategy 2014
9. Asia-Pacific Maritime Security Strategy 2015
10. Stratégie nationale de sûreté des espaces maritimes (France) 2015

In less developed countries the priority and urgency of issues -large parts of their populations being underfed- result in food security being seen as an
unavoidable goal and a proper maritime strategy being regarded not only as an instrument for the management of ocean space, but also a means of socio-
economic development and a driver of food-related activities (fishing).
AND EU MARITIME POLICIES

The most direct references to

food security and nutrition are
found in the International Ocean
FOOD SECURITY

Governance (JOIN (2016) 49

final); it is in this type of
instrument that notions are to be
found such as “… poverty, safe,
nutritious and sufficient food…”.,

This is not the EU’s own

formulation of food security, but
a concept adhered to in the
framework of foreign policy, in
which maritime security takes a
leading role.
CONCLUSIONS

The concept of food security has been repositioned in a broader and more complex context (human rights). With the exception of the African continent
(2050 AIM Strategy), food security lacks visibility and relevance in the new strategic visions. In the EU, food security has been confined to the area of
pronouncements on external action (EU International Ocean Governance). Internally, the most substantial maritime policies are dominated by commercial
focuses, industrial performance, competitiveness and internal labor market-related social demands that contribute to an ongoing feeling of false security
around food, for which the institution has been reproached.

JUAN L. SUÁREZ-DE VIVERO - JUAN CARLOS RODRIGUEZ-

www.marineplan.es JOSÉ MANUEL LÓPEZ TORRES
UNIVERSITY OF SEVILLE
vivero@us.es
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY