Harnessing global fisheries to tackle micronutrient deficiencies

Abstract

Uneven progress in tackling malnutrition has kept food and nutrition security high on the 53 development agenda globally 1,3. Micronutrients, such as iron and zinc, are a particular focus; it is estimated that nearly two billion people lack key micronutrients 7 , underlying nearly half of all deaths in children under the age of five years , and reducing GDP in Africa by estimates of up to 11% 2,3,7. Consequently, efforts to tackle malnutrition have shifted from a focus on 57 increasing energy and macronutrients (e.g. protein) towards ensuring sufficient consumption 58 of micronutrients 3. People gain nutrients from a mix of locally produced and imported food products. Fish, harvested widely and traded both domestically and internationally, are a rich source of bioavailable micronutrients, which are often deficient in diets that rely heavily on plant-based sources 6,8. Fish could therefore help address nutritional deficiencies if there are 62 sufficient quantities of fishery-derived nutrients accessible in places where deficiencies exist. 63 However, addressing this major food policy frontier has been elusive, in part because the 64 nutrient composition of fish varies significantly among species, and data remain sparse for most species 5. Here we determine the contribution marine fisheries can make to addressing micronutrient 68 deficiencies. First, using strict inclusion protocols (methods), we developed a database of 2,267 69 measures of nutritional composition, from 367 fish species, spanning 43 countries, for seven nutrients essential to human health: calcium, iron, selenium, zinc, vitamin A, omega-3 (n-3 71 fatty acids), and protein. We then gathered species-level environmental and ecological traits 72 that capture elements of diet, thermal regime, and energetic demand in fish 9,10 to develop a series of Bayesian hierarchical models that determine drivers of nutrient content (Methods).

Tough fishing and severe seasonal food insecurity in Amazonian flooded forests

“…Billions of people worldwide rely on wild fish and bushmeat as major sources of protein, fats, calories and micronutrients (Cawthorn & Hoffman, 2015; Golden et al, 2016; Hicks et al, 2019; Lynch et al, 2016). It is commonly assumed that the food security of these wildlife‐reliant populations is jeopardized by the ongoing fall in vertebrate abundance (e.g.…”

The Future of Aquatic Protein: Implications for Protein Sources in Aquaculture Diets

“…Fish are valuable sources of nutrients and micronutrients, and play an important role in human nutrition and the global food supply. 9,16,17 In addition to being a rich source of high-quality protein and essential amino acids, fish are a dietary source of health-promoting omega-3 or n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), essential minerals (calcium, phosphorus, zinc, iron, selenium, and iodine), and vitamins (A, B, and D). 9 Even with increased prevalence of alternative ingredients in aquafeeds, fish products from aquaculture must continue to maintain the levels of these fatty acids and micronutrients for healthy and nutritious human diets.…”

Long-Term Fishing Catch and Effort Trends in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, With Emphasis on the Small-Scale Sectors

“…Projections of expected national demand for fish protein suggest that the RMI has the potential to supply its own demand with enough local fish to assure good nutrition of the population (Bell et al, 2009). Similar projections have been made globally, but require careful control and restriction of export-oriented distant water fishing fleets that do not contribute to domestic food security in developing countries (Hicks et al, 2019;Pauly, 2019).…”