Fisheries and Policy Implications for Human Nutrition

Abstract

Purpose of review: This review brings together recent key research related to the role of fisheries as a source of nutrients to improve human health and discusses the implications of fisheries policy on food- and nutrient-security.

Recent findings: Recent studies highlight the critical role of fisheries to support human nutrition, describing the nutrient composition of hundreds of species of fish, the global distribution of these fish, and the strategic role of fisheries in addressing micronutrient deficiencies. In many developing regions and emerging economies, fisheries can address malnutrition with local supplies of critical nutrients such as fatty acids, zinc, iron, calcium, and vitamins, making these accessible to low-income populations. However, this local potential is jeopardized by overfishing, climate change, and international trade, which reduce the local availability of nutritious and affordable fish in low-income countries, where they are most needed. This calls for policy reforms that shift management focus of fisheries as a commodity provider to a domestic public health asset to ensure food- and nutrient-security.

Keywords: Fish consumption; Food-security; Industrial fisheries; Micronutrients; Nutrient-security; Small-scale fisheries, large-scale fisheries.