examines whether and how legal fisheries instruments encompass a normative consensus on human development. Focusing on both multilateral (treaties and soft-law) as well as the ACP-EU bilateral fisheries instruments, Nienke van der Burgt provides a detailed analysis as to whether these different types of legal instruments reflect the principles of equity, poverty eradication and participation, which have been identified as key indicators of human development. Moreover, specific attention is paid to whether explicit reference is made to the small-scale fisheries sector and to the role of women. Concluding that despite increasing evidence of the potential and significant contribution of fisheries towards human development, legal fisheries instruments seem to be struggling with the incorporation of a human development–centred approach, is essential reading for all those involved in the fields of international environmental law and sustainable human development.