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Review
. 2024 Dec 4:11:1424740.
doi: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1424740. eCollection 2024.

Contribution of fish to food and nutrition security in Southern Africa: challenges and opportunities in fish production

Sahya Maulu  1   2 , Confred Godfrey Musuka  3 , Montshwari Molefe  4   5 , Tlou Kevin Ngoepe  6 , Ndakalimwe Naftal Gabriel  7 , Joseph Mphande  8   9 , Msumenji Phiri  10 , Valdemiro Muhala  11   12   13 , Messias Alfredo Macuiane  12   14 , Mzime Regina Ndebele-Murisa  15 , Oliver Jolezya Hasimuna  9   16   17 , Thethela Bokhutlo  4   18 , Mexford Mulumpwa  10   19 , Victoria Ndinelago Erasmus  20 , Wilson Jere  10 , Chipo Hazel Dekesa  21 , Chipo Plaxedes Mubaya  21 , Manecas Francisco Baloi  22 , Johannes Angala Iitembu  7 , Enock Siankwilimba  23   24 , Lin Zhang  25   26
Affiliations
Review

Contribution of fish to food and nutrition security in Southern Africa: challenges and opportunities in fish production

Sahya Maulu et al. Front Nutr. .

Abstract

This study investigated the role of fish in addressing food and nutrition security challenges in Southern Africa, focusing on 10 countries including Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, and South Africa. It examined the current state of food and nutrition security, fish production, and fish consumption patterns. Additionally, the study investigated the challenges and opportunities to enhance fish production in these countries thereby enhancing food and nutrition security. The findings revealed persistent challenges such as a high prevalence of food insecurity and malnutrition throughout the region. Fish production is hindered by overexploitation of fishery resources, inadequate fisheries management, susceptibility to climate-related shocks, limited investments in aquaculture, and inadequate access to input supplies such as quality fish seed and feed. Despite these obstacles, opportunities exist to promote sustainable fish production to enhance food security and nutrition. Countries endowed with extensive coastlines and inland waters exhibit significant potential for fishery development, while landlocked nations are increasingly exploring aquaculture as a viable solution. Addressing the challenges in fish production and capitalizing on opportunities requires comprehensive governance, technological innovation, policy interventions, and investment to ensure the sustainability and resilience of the fisheries and aquaculture industries in the region.

Keywords: aquaculture; blue foods; fish; fisheries; nutrition; sub-Saharan Africa.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Map showing the countries in Southern Africa investigated in this study.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Percentage change in total population, rural population, and urban population in 2011 against 2021 by country. Data source: United Nations, World Population Prospects (5), licensed under CC BY 3.0 IGO.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Food insecurity status by country (2020–2022, average). Data source: FAOSTAT-Suite of Food Security Indicaors (79), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are presented as percentages (%).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Estimated average animal protein supply by country in Southern Africa (2018–2020). Data source: FAOSTAT New Food Balances (6), (accessed on December 15, 2023), licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Capture fisheries and aquaculture production by country in Southern Africa, 2011–2021. Data source: FAO fishery and aquaculture statistics, global fisheries and aquaculture production (79); FAOSTAT, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Aquatic products trade by country in Southern Africa, 2011–2021. Data Source (80); FAOSTAT, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Global Nutrition Report (2022). Action on equity to end malnutrition. Available at: https://globalnutritionreport.org/documents/922/2022_Global_Nutrition_Re... (Accessed October 28, 2023).
    1. FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP, & WHO . The state of food security and nutrition in the world 2023. Urbanization, agrifood systems transformation and healthy diets across the rural–urban continuum. Rome: FAO; (2023).
    1. Global Nutrition Report (2017). Nourishing the SDGs. Available at: https://globalnutritionreport.org/documents/932/2022_Global_Nutrition_Re... (Accessed February 10, 2024).
    1. United Nations. World Population Prospects (2019). Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Available at: https://population.un.org/wpp/Publications/Files/WPP2019_Methodology.pdf (Accessed September 18, 2023).
    1. United Nations, UN . (2022). World population prospects 2022 revision. Available at: https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/Download/Standard/Population (Accessed July 5, 2023).

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