The produce from fisl1ing plays an important part in the protein content of the Vanuatu population's diet in that it meets 16% to 18% of their yearly protein requirements. Three major consumer areas have been identified : the urban area, the coastal area and inland area in rural zones. Each one is dependent on the nature of supply and demand, and the particular constraints affecting these two factors. In the country as a whole, imported products (mostly tinned fish) account for 32% to 35% of the fish supply. ln order to give more priority to local produets in the protein supply, the Government has introduced an ambitious development programme for artisanal commercial fisheries at village level. The purpose of this paper is to establish whether this programme is likely to '; improve food security in the country and to outline some prospects of increasing the role of fisheries in population nutrition.