Significance of fish resources in nutrition of population of Sierra-Leone

Abstract

The review provides an analysis of consuming fish resources by the population of Sierra Leone. It has been stated that consumption of fish resources per capita in Sierra Leone reached a high level (36.5 kg per capita) in 2008, while in 1961 the lowest level was observed - 11.4 kg. At the moment, the amount of fish consumed is gradually decreasing. According to a 2019 FAO study in Sierra Leone, fish accounts for 80% of the total animal protein consumed by the population. In the diet of the population of Sierra Leone, there is a deficiency of protein, vitamins and trace elements, which leads to an increase in a number of diseases. Fish is an excellent protein supplement to the grain-rich diet of the population and contains polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and minerals necessary for humans. Ethmalosa fimbriata and Sardinella are the commercially important fish species in Sierra Leone, accounting for 46.54% and 16.42% of the population's consumption of commercial fish species, respectively. There was analyzed the biochemical composition of the commercial fish species (Ethmalosa fimbriata, Sardinella spp., Ilisha Africana, Elops spp., Dentex, Pseudotolithus elongates) in order to expand the range of food products.