Small marine fisheries hailed as nutrient solution for remote coastal communities, study finds

17 Jul 2023 --- Coastal communities in many of the world’s developing nations rely on small-scale fisheries for 15-30% of their nutrient intake. However, researchers from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) and Harvard University have found that an average of 50% of those living in these communities have an inadequate intake of essential nutrients.

Nutrient shortfalls in these populations include iron, zinc, calcium, fatty acids (DHA + EPA), vitamins A and B12, iodine, selenium and fatty acids.

“There are a total of 41 nutrients sourced from the diets that are essential for physiological functioning and that our body cannot manufacture in sufficient amounts. In many communities around the world, people frequently suffer from a variety of nutrient-deficiency diseases,” Daniel Viana, marine conservation scientist at WWF and co-author of the study, tells Nutrition Insight.   

“Not eating enough vitamins, minerals and other compounds can lead to heart disease, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, among others.”

Small-scale fisheries harvest thousands of different species, presenting a myriad of options for supplying nutrients. “Different species carry different nutrients and have the potential to address specific needs of populations,” Viana explains.

 For example, bivalves (oysters, mussels, etc.) are particularly rich in iron and vitamin B12, while pelagic fish (e.g. tuna, sardines) are rich in Vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids. The new data provides valuable context for the more than two billion people worldwide who cannot access nutritious food. The researchers combined multiple global databases to quantify the importance of small-scale marine fisheries to the national-level nutrient supply of coastal populations. 

Hero of public health
The study published in Scientific Reports demonstrates that more than 20 nations across Africa, the Pacific, the Caribbean and Asia obtain more than 30% of their essential vitamins and nutrients from small-scale fisheries catch.

It demonstrates the significance of small-scale fisheries for nutritionally vulnerable coastal populations, emphasizing how effective fisheries management can contribute to public health. These communities have access to staple foods such as rice, wheat, corn and cassava, while aquatic foods are often their only protein staple.

WWF recommends the B2B sector can play a vital role in ensuring that food is directed to those in need and improving infrastructure and technology to facilitate this. “Much of the global fisheries catch (and nutrients) is diverted from food insecure to food secure countries. Improving access of aquatic foods to nutritionally vulnerable populations will be key to addressing global malnutrition challenges,” Viana explains.  

“Today, about 35% of fish caught is wasted. By-products that are discarded during processing can represent between 30-70%. Developing new technology and infrastructure related to reducing food waste and enhancing food quality and safety can play a key role in reducing food and nutrition insecurity.”

Besides filling micronutrient gaps in vulnerable communities, seafood helps displace the consumption of less healthy meats. Two servings per week can reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases and prenatal and child mortality, notes the study. This will improve the quality of life and life expectancy.

A healthy body needs consistent access to small quantities of essential micronutrients for proper physiological and immune function.Small-scale fisheries help communities access diets that are richer in nutrients.  

Small-scale fisheries contributed about 32% of the overall global seafood nutrient supply, 17% of the nutrient supply from animal-sourced foods and 10% from all foods. Catch from the small-scale fisheries sector can contribute to human nutrition through direct seafood consumption and fisheries-derived income redirected toward purchases that improve nutrition. 

Seafood is more affordable than beef or chicken, making it valuable to coastal communities with limited access to broader food markets.

Making the correlation
Small-scale fisheries catch is particularly important in populations that need access to diverse and rich diets. The researchers analyzed the relative contributions of marine small-scale fisheries to nutrient supply at national levels relative to other seafood-producing sectors, animal-sourced foods and all other foods. 

Next, they calculated the small-scale fisheries’ contribution to national nutrient supplies concerning estimates of inadequate nutrient intakes to see the vulnerability to shocks in production at these fisheries. 

According to the scientists, it is critical to understand whether small-scale fisheries production is stable over time or potentially declining due to overfishing, climate change, pollution, habitat degradation and loss, or other threats that could negatively impact human nutrition. 

Nutritionally vulnerable coastal populations are impacted by fluctuations in catch and will benefit from better resource management. Successful governance of these resources shows the value of securing fishing rights and empowering local communities. 

“Aquatic foods are often overlooked in global food policy discussions. This was the first study to estimate the contribution of small-scale fisheries to nutrient supply on a global scale. These results shed light on the importance of this sector for food and nutrition security globally and position small-scale fisheries as a key sector in future food security discussions,” notes Viana.

“While declines in catch can have devastating effects for human health, policy reforms that support sustainability and access of small-scale fisheries can help address nutrient deficiencies.”

Successful examples of small-scale fisheries governance demonstrate the value of securing fishing rights and empowering local communities. 

In this study, we show that coastal communities are reliant on small-scale fisheries for accessing vital nutrients. Therefore, any decline in catch can have important health consequences. This builds the case for greater investment in ocean governance and conservation. 

 Sustainable use strategies such as Marine Protected Areas, Territorial Use Rights for Fisheries, and Locally Managed Marine Areas help incentivize sustainable management.

Policies prioritizing local consumption and targeted to specific nutritional needs can help address inadequate nutrient intake and improve food security.Infrastructural improvements of fisheries in coastal areas that reduce food waste and improve food quality can help mitigate annual variation or fish supplies.  

Infrastructure and technological improvements that reduce food waste, improve food quality and safety and help cope with inter-annual variation or declines can also improve human health in regions where nutrients are most needed. 

Regional variation of nutrient supply
Polynesia, Micronesia, the Caribbean and Western Africa have the highest average contribution of small-scale fisheries to overall seafood nutrient supply. Countries such as Sierra Leone, Somalia, Anguilla, Bangladesh, Fiji, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique contributed the most.

About one-third of coastal nations in Africa have an exceptionally high prevalence of nutrient deficiencies and relatively high contributions of marine small-scale fisheries catch for nutrient supply.

Countries such as Mexico and Chile have significant contributions of small-scale fisheries for nutrient supply but are not vulnerable to insufficient nutrient supplies on a national scale. 

Meanwhile, Care International’s latest report showed that the current food crisis, initially stemming from COVID-19, increased food and fuel prices from conflict, has driven approximately 209.6 million people to food scarcity and hunger. 

Earlier this year, African leaders called for “more commitment and accountability in Africa’s efforts to achieve continental and global goals for nutrition, ahead of the 2025 World Health Assembly Nutrition target deadline.

By Inga de Jong