1
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Fleming LE, Landrigan PJ, Ashford OS, Whitman EM, Swift A, Gerwick WH, Heymans JJ, Hicks CC, Morrissey K, White MP, Alcantara-Creencia L, Alexander KA, Astell-Burt T, Berlinck RGS, Cohen PJ, Hixson R, Islam MM, Iwasaki A, Praptiwi RA, Raps H, Remy JY, Sowman G, Ternon E, Thiele T, Thilsted SH, Uku J, Ockenden S, Kumar P. Enhancing Human Health and Wellbeing through Sustainably and Equitably Unlocking a Healthy Ocean's Potential. Ann Glob Health 2024; 90:41. [PMID: 39005643 PMCID: PMC11243763 DOI: 10.5334/aogh.4471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
A healthy ocean is essential for human health, and yet the links between the ocean and human health are often overlooked. By providing new medicines, technologies, energy, foods, recreation, and inspiration, the ocean has the potential to enhance human health and wellbeing. However, climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, and inequity threaten both ocean and human health. Sustainable realisation of the ocean's health benefits will require overcoming these challenges through equitable partnerships, enforcement of laws and treaties, robust monitoring, and use of metrics that assess both the ocean's natural capital and human wellbeing. Achieving this will require an explicit focus on human rights, equity, sustainability, and social justice. In addition to highlighting the potential unique role of the healthcare sector, we offer science-based recommendations to protect both ocean health and human health, and we highlight the unique potential of the healthcare sector tolead this effort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lora E Fleming
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health of the University of Exeter Medical School, Cornwall, UK
| | - Philip J Landrigan
- Instituto de Quimica de Sao Carlos, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Ella M Whitman
- Program for Global Public Health and the Common Good, Boston College, Boston, Massachusetts, USA and the Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monaco
| | - Amy Swift
- Ocean Program, at World Resources Institute, London, UK
| | - William H Gerwick
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, US
| | | | | | - Karyn Morrissey
- Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
| | | | - Lota Alcantara-Creencia
- College of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Western Philippines University, Palawan, Philippines
| | - Karen A Alexander
- Marine Governance and Blue Economy at Heriot-Watt University, Orkney, UK
| | - Thomas Astell-Burt
- School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Roberto G S Berlinck
- Instituto de Quimica de Sao Carlos, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Philippa J Cohen
- Small-Scale Fisheries Research Program World Fish, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Richard Hixson
- Critical Care, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, Darlington, UK
| | - Mohammad Mahmudul Islam
- Department of Coastal and Marine Fisheries, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet, Bangladesh
| | - Arihiro Iwasaki
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Radisti A Praptiwi
- Research Center for Ecology and Ethnobiology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jakarta, Indonesia
| | | | - Jan Yves Remy
- Shridath Ramphal Centre, the University of the West Indies, St. Lucia/Barbados
| | - Georgina Sowman
- Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK
| | - Eva Ternon
- Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche at Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Torsten Thiele
- Research Institute for Sustainability - Helmholtz Centre Potsdam (RIFS), Potsdam, Germany
| | - Shakuntala H Thilsted
- Nutrition, Health and Food Security Impact Area Platform Worldfish CGIAR, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Jacqueline Uku
- Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Mombasa, Kenya
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2
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Zhao K, Gaines SD, García Molinos J, Zhang M, Xu J. Effect of trade on global aquatic food consumption patterns. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1412. [PMID: 38360822 PMCID: PMC10869811 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45556-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Globalization of fishery products is playing a significant role in shaping the harvesting and use of aquatic foods, but a vigorous debate has focused on whether the trade is a driver of the inequitable distribution of aquatic foods. Here, we develop species-level mass balance and trophic level identification datasets for 174 countries and territories to analyze global aquatic food consumption patterns, trade characteristics, and impacts from 1976 to 2019. We find that per capita consumption of aquatic foods has increased significantly at the global scale, but the human aquatic food trophic level (HATL), i.e., the average trophic level of aquatic food items in the human diet, is declining (from 3.42 to 3.18) because of the considerable increase in low-trophic level aquaculture species output relative to that of capture fisheries since 1976. Moreover, our study finds that trade has contributed to increasing the availability and trophic level of aquatic foods in >60% of the world's countries. Trade has also reduced geographic differences in the HATL among countries over recent decades. We suggest that there are important opportunities to widen the current focus on productivity gains and economic outputs to a more equitable global distribution of aquatic foods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangshun Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Key Laboratory of Lake and Watershed Science for Water Security, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Steven D Gaines
- Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | | | - Min Zhang
- Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Engineering Research Center of Green Development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Jun Xu
- Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Key Laboratory of Lake and Watershed Science for Water Security, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, China.
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China.
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3
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Seto KL, Friedman WR, Eurich JG, Gephart JA, Zamborain-Mason J, Sharp M, Aram E, Tekaieti A, Tekiau A, Golden CD. Characterizing pathways of seafood access in small island developing states. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2305424121. [PMID: 38315858 PMCID: PMC10873629 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2305424121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Ensuring healthy and sustainable food systems in increasing social, economic, and ecological change is a key global priority to protect human and environmental health. Seafood is an essential component of these food systems and a critical source of nutrients, especially in coastal communities. However, despite rapid transformations in aquatic food systems, and our urgent need to understand them, there is a dearth of data connecting harvested food production to actualized food consumption. Many analyses suggest institutional, legal, or technological innovations to improve food systems, but few have analyzed the pathways through which people already gain access to nutritious food. Here, using a random forest model and cluster analysis of a nationally representative data set from Kiribati, we operationalize access theory to trace the flows of consumptive benefit in a fisheries-based food system. We demonstrate that the market access mechanism is the key mechanism mediating seafood access in Kiribati, but importantly, the highest seafood consumption households showed lower market access, pointing to the importance of non-market acquisition (e.g., home production and gifting). We reveal six distinct household strategies that employ different sets of access mechanisms to ensure high levels of local seafood consumption in different contexts. We demonstrate the impacts of these strategies on the composition of household seafoods consumed, stressing the need to support these existing successful strategies. Finally, we point to key policy and management insights (e.g., improved infrastructure, shifts in species management) that may be more effective in reinforcing these existing pathways than commonly proposed food system interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine L. Seto
- Environmental Studies Department, University of California at Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA95064
| | - Whitney R. Friedman
- Environmental Studies Department, University of California at Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA95064
| | - Jacob G. Eurich
- Environmental Defense Fund, Santa Barbara, CA93117
- Marine Sciences Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA93117
| | - Jessica A. Gephart
- Department of Environmental Science, American University, Washington, DC20016
| | - Jessica Zamborain-Mason
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA02115
| | - Michael Sharp
- Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW2522, Australia
- Pacific Community, Noumea98848, New Caledonia
| | - Erietera Aram
- Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource Development, Coastal Fisheries Division, Bikenibeui, Tarawa, Republic of Kiribati
| | - Aritita Tekaieti
- Kiribati National Statistics Office, Ministry of Finance & Economic Development, Bairiki, Tarawa, Kiribati
| | - Aranteiti Tekiau
- Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource Development, Coastal Fisheries Division, Bikenibeui, Tarawa, Republic of Kiribati
| | - Christopher D. Golden
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA02115
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4
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Cheung WWL, Maire E, Oyinlola MA, Robinson JPW, Graham NAJ, Lam VWY, MacNeil MA, Hicks CC. Climate change exacerbates nutrient disparities from seafood. NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE 2023; 13:1242-1249. [PMID: 37927330 PMCID: PMC10624626 DOI: 10.1038/s41558-023-01822-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Seafood is an important source of bioavailable micronutrients supporting human health, yet it is unclear how micronutrient production has changed in the past or how climate change will influence its availability. Here combining reconstructed fisheries databases and predictive models, we assess nutrient availability from fisheries and mariculture in the past and project their futures under climate change. Since the 1990s, availabilities of iron, calcium and omega-3 from seafood for direct human consumption have increased but stagnated for protein. Under climate change, nutrient availability is projected to decrease disproportionately in tropical low-income countries that are already highly dependent on seafood-derived nutrients. At 4 oC of warming, nutrient availability is projected to decline by ~30% by 2100 in low income countries, while at 1.5-2.0 oC warming, decreases are projected to be ~10%. We demonstrate the importance of effective mitigation to support nutritional security of vulnerable nations and global health equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- William W. L. Cheung
- Changing Ocean Research Unit, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
| | - Eva Maire
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Muhammed A. Oyinlola
- Changing Ocean Research Unit, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
| | | | | | - Vicky W. Y. Lam
- Changing Ocean Research Unit, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
| | - M. Aaron MacNeil
- Ocean Frontier Institute, Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada
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5
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Robinson JPW, Darling ES, Maire E, Hamilton M, Hicks CC, Jupiter SD, Aaron MacNeil M, Mangubhai S, McClanahan T, Nand Y, Graham NAJ. Trophic distribution of nutrient production in coral reef fisheries. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231601. [PMID: 37788704 PMCID: PMC10547557 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Coral reef fisheries supply nutritious catch to tropical coastal communities, where the quality of reef seafood is determined by both the rate of biomass production and nutritional value of reef fishes. Yet our understanding of reef fisheries typically uses targets of total reef fish biomass rather than individual growth (i.e. biomass production) and nutrient content (i.e. nutritional value of reef fish), limiting the ability of management to sustain the productivity of nutritious catches. Here, we use modelled growth coefficients and nutrient concentrations to develop a new metric of nutrient productivity of coral reef fishes. We then evaluate this metric with underwater visual surveys of reef fish assemblages from four tropical countries to examine nutrient productivity of reef fish food webs. Species' growth coefficients were associated with nutrients that vary with body size (calcium, iron, selenium and zinc), but not total nutrient density. When integrated with fish abundance data, we find that herbivorous species typically dominate standing biomass, biomass turnover and nutrient production on coral reefs. Such bottom-heavy trophic distributions of nutrients were consistent across gradients of fishing pressure and benthic composition. We conclude that management restrictions that promote sustainability of herbivores and other low trophic-level species can sustain biomass and nutrient production from reef fisheries that is critical to the food security of over 500 million people in the tropics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emily S. Darling
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Global Marine Program, Bronx, NY 10460, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eva Maire
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Mark Hamilton
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Christina C. Hicks
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Stacy D. Jupiter
- Melanesia Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, 11 Ma'afu St, Suva, Fiji
| | - M. Aaron MacNeil
- Ocean Frontier Institute, Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Canada B3H 4R2
| | - Sangeeta Mangubhai
- Melanesia Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, 11 Ma'afu St, Suva, Fiji
| | - Tim McClanahan
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Global Marine Program, Bronx, NY 10460, USA
| | - Yashika Nand
- Melanesia Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, 11 Ma'afu St, Suva, Fiji
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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6
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Viana DF, Zamborain-Mason J, Gaines SD, Schmidhuber J, Golden CD. Nutrient supply from marine small-scale fisheries. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11357. [PMID: 37443165 PMCID: PMC10344920 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37338-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Over 2 billion people are unable to access safe, nutritious and sufficient food year-round. While global fisheries are considered key in providing essential nutrients to hundreds of millions of people around the globe, the specific contribution of small-scale fisheries to the nutrient supply given other available food supplies is unknown. Here, we combined multiple global databases to quantify the importance of marine small-scale fisheries to national-level nutrient supply of coastal populations. We found that, on average across assessed nutrients (iron, zinc, calcium, DHA + EPA and vitamins A and B12), small-scale fisheries contributed about 32% of overall global seafood nutrient supply, 17% of the nutrient supply from animal-sourced foods and 10% of nutrient supply from all foods. These global averages, however, underrepresent some key roles of ocean-based foods. Combining nutrient supply estimates with global estimates of inadequate nutrient intake, we found that about half of coastal countries that have a mean inadequate intake of at least 50% across assessed nutrients (iron, zinc, calcium, DHA + EPA and vitamins A and B12) rely on small scale fisheries for at least 15% of mean nutrient supply, and many rely on small scale fisheries for more than 30% of mean nutrient supply. Catch from small-scale fisheries is particularly important for the supply of vitamin B12, calcium and DHA + EPA, representing up to 100% of supply in selected countries. Our study demonstrates the significance of small-scale fisheries for nutritionally vulnerable coastal populations, emphasizing how effective fisheries management can contribute to public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel F Viana
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Ocean Conservation, World Wildlife Fund, Washington, DC, 20037, USA.
| | | | - Steven D Gaines
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA
| | - Josef Schmidhuber
- Markets and Trade Division, Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, Italy
| | - Christopher D Golden
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
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7
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Subramaniam RC, Ruwet M, Boschetti F, Fielke S, Fleming A, Dominguez-Martinez RM, Plagányi É, Schrobback P, Melbourne-Thomas J. The socio-ecological resilience and sustainability implications of seafood supply chain disruption. REVIEWS IN FISH BIOLOGY AND FISHERIES 2023:1-26. [PMID: 37360577 PMCID: PMC10262934 DOI: 10.1007/s11160-023-09788-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Remaining resilient under disruption, while also being sustainable, is essential for continued and equitable seafood supply in a changing world. However, despite the wide application of resilience thinking to sustainability research and the multiple dimensions of social-ecological sustainability, it can be difficult to ascertain how to make a supply chain both resilient and sustainable. In this review, we draw upon the socio-ecological resilience and sustainability literature to identify links and highlight concepts for managing and monitoring adaptive and equitable seafood supply chains. We then review documented responses of seafood supply networks to disruption and detail a case study to describe the attributes of a resilient seafood supply system. Finally, we outline the implications of these responses for social (including wellbeing and equity), economic and environmental sustainability. Disruptions to supply chains were categorised based on their frequency of occurrence (episodic, chronic, cumulative) and underlying themes were derived from supply chain responses for each type of disruption. We found that seafood supply chains were resilient when they were diverse (in either products, markets, consumers or processing), connected, supported by governments at all scales, and where supply chain actors were able to learn and collaborate through trust-based relationships. With planning, infrastructure and systematic mapping, these attributes also can help to build socio-ecological sustainability and move towards more adaptive and equitable seafood supply.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roshni C. Subramaniam
- CSIRO Environment, Hobart, TAS 7000 Australia
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, 7000 Australia
| | - Mélodie Ruwet
- School of Government and International Relations, Griffith University, Queensland, 4222 Australia
| | | | - Simon Fielke
- CSIRO Environment, Dutton Park, QLD 4102 Australia
| | - Aysha Fleming
- CSIRO Environment, Hobart, TAS 7000 Australia
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, 7000 Australia
| | | | | | | | - Jessica Melbourne-Thomas
- CSIRO Environment, Hobart, TAS 7000 Australia
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, 7000 Australia
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8
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Jensen IJ, Bodin N, Govinden R, Elvevoll EO. Marine Capture Fisheries from Western Indian Ocean: An Excellent Source of Proteins and Essential Amino Acids. Foods 2023; 12:foods12051015. [PMID: 36900532 PMCID: PMC10000635 DOI: 10.3390/foods12051015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The Republic of Seychelles is located in Western-Central Indian Ocean, and marine capture fisheries play a key role in the country's economic and social life in terms of food security, employment, and cultural identity. The Seychellois are among the highest per capita fish-consuming people in the world, with a high reliance on fish for protein. However, the diet is in transition, moving towards a Western-style diet lower in fish and higher in animal meat and easily available, highly processed foods. The aim of this study was to examine and evaluate the protein content and quality of a wide range of marine species exploited by the Seychelles industrial and artisanal fisheries, as well as to further to assess the contribution of these species to the daily intake recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). A total of 230 individuals from 33 marine species, including 3 crustaceans, 1 shark, and 29 teleost fish, were collected from the Seychelles waters during 2014-2016. All analyzed species had a high content of high-quality protein, with all indispensable amino acids above the reference value pattern for adults and children. As seafood comprises almost 50% of the consumed animal protein in the Seychelles, it is of particular importance as a source of essential amino acids and associated nutrients, and as such every effort to sustain the consumption of regional seafood should be encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ida-Johanne Jensen
- Norwegian College of Fishery Science, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries, and Economics, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
- Correspondence: or
| | - Nathalie Bodin
- Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA), Fishing Port, Victoria P.O. Box 449, Mahé, Seychelles
- Sustainable Ocean Seychelles, BeauBelle, Mahé, Seychelles
| | - Rodney Govinden
- Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA), Fishing Port, Victoria P.O. Box 449, Mahé, Seychelles
| | - Edel Oddny Elvevoll
- Norwegian College of Fishery Science, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries, and Economics, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway
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9
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Robinson JPW, Mills DJ, Asiedu GA, Byrd K, Mancha Cisneros MDM, Cohen PJ, Fiorella KJ, Graham NAJ, MacNeil MA, Maire E, Mbaru EK, Nico G, Omukoto JO, Simmance F, Hicks CC. Small pelagic fish supply abundant and affordable micronutrients to low- and middle-income countries. NATURE FOOD 2022; 3:1075-1084. [PMID: 37118295 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-022-00643-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Wild-caught fish provide an irreplaceable source of essential nutrients in food-insecure places. Fishers catch thousands of species, yet the diversity of aquatic foods is often categorized homogeneously as 'fish', obscuring an understanding of which species supply affordable, nutritious and abundant food. Here, we use catch, economic and nutrient data on 2,348 species to identify the most affordable and nutritious fish in 39 low- and middle-income countries. We find that a 100 g portion of fish cost between 10 and 30% of the cheapest daily diet, with small pelagic fish (herring, sardine, anchovy) being the cheapest nutritious fish in 72% of countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, where nutrient deficiencies are rising, <20% of small pelagic catch would meet recommended dietary fish intakes for all children (6 months to 4 years old) living near to water bodies. Nutrition-sensitive policies that ensure local supplies and promote consumption of wild-caught fish could help address nutrient deficiencies in vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David J Mills
- WorldFish, Jalan Batu Maung, Batu Maung, Bayan Lepas, Malaysia
- Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | | | - Kendra Byrd
- WorldFish, Jalan Batu Maung, Batu Maung, Bayan Lepas, Malaysia
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham, UK
| | - Maria Del Mar Mancha Cisneros
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Philippa J Cohen
- WorldFish, Jalan Batu Maung, Batu Maung, Bayan Lepas, Malaysia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kathryn J Fiorella
- Department of Public & Ecosystem Health, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | | | - M Aaron MacNeil
- Ocean Frontier Institute, Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Eva Maire
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Emmanuel K Mbaru
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
- Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Mombasa, Kenya
| | - Gianluigi Nico
- Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy
| | - Johnstone O Omukoto
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
- Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Mombasa, Kenya
| | - Fiona Simmance
- WorldFish, Jalan Batu Maung, Batu Maung, Bayan Lepas, Malaysia
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10
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Appadoo C, Sultan R, Simier M, Tandrayen-Ragoobur V, Capello M. Artisanal fishers in small island developing states and their perception of environmental change: the case study of Mauritius. REVIEWS IN FISH BIOLOGY AND FISHERIES 2022; 33:1-18. [PMID: 36373093 PMCID: PMC9638499 DOI: 10.1007/s11160-022-09735-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Small island developing states (SIDS) are highly dependent on coastal marine resources. Artisanal fishers in SIDS currently face multiple stressors related to global environmental change. Considering Mauritius (South Western Indian Ocean) as a case study, this paper characterizes artisanal fishers in SIDS and assesses their perception of global change using the Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) approach. A semi-structured survey method was used to interview 247 fishers from all around the country. Artisanal fishers used multiple fishing areas and gears, with half of the fishers using Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs). Six main groups of fishers were identified according to their fishing strategies, which reflected different target species in their reported catches. The majority of fishers reported lower fish abundances and fewer species now compared to 10 to 15 years ago. All groups of fishers observed environmental change over the same period. Such ecological knowledge highlights the exposure of fishers to stressors induced by environmental change. The characterization of the groups of fishers and their fishing strategies will be useful to better evaluate adaptation strategies and support management measures to face global environmental change. Graphical Abstract Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11160-022-09735-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandani Appadoo
- Department of Biosciences and Ocean Studies and Pole of Research Excellence Sustainable Marine Biodiversity, Faculty of Science, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius
| | - Riad Sultan
- Department of Economics and Statistics, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius
| | - Monique Simier
- MARBEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Sète, France
| | - Verena Tandrayen-Ragoobur
- Department of Economics and Statistics, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius
| | - Manuela Capello
- MARBEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Sète, France
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11
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Hicks CC, Gephart JA, Koehn JZ, Nakayama S, Payne HJ, Allison EH, Belhbib D, Cao L, Cohen PJ, Fanzo J, Fluet-Chouinard E, Gelcich S, Golden CD, Gorospe KD, Isaacs M, Kuempel CD, Lee KN, MacNeil MA, Maire E, Njuki J, Rao N, Sumaila UR, Selig ER, Thilsted SH, Wabnitz CCC, Naylor RL. Rights and representation support justice across aquatic food systems. NATURE FOOD 2022; 3:851-861. [PMID: 37117898 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-022-00618-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Injustices are prevalent in food systems, where the accumulation of vast wealth is possible for a few, yet one in ten people remain hungry. Here, for 194 countries we combine aquatic food production, distribution and consumption data with corresponding national policy documents and, drawing on theories of social justice, explore whether barriers to participation explain unequal distributions of benefits. Using Bayesian models, we find economic and political barriers are associated with lower wealth-based benefits; countries produce and consume less when wealth, formal education and voice and accountability are lacking. In contrast, social barriers are associated with lower welfare-based benefits; aquatic foods are less affordable where gender inequality is greater. Our analyses of policy documents reveal a frequent failure to address political and gender-based barriers. However, policies linked to more just food system outcomes centre principles of human rights, specify inclusive decision-making processes and identify and challenge drivers of injustice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jessica A Gephart
- Department of Environmental Science, American University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - J Zachary Koehn
- Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Hanna J Payne
- Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Dyhia Belhbib
- Ecotrust Canada, Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada
| | - Ling Cao
- School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Philippa J Cohen
- WorldFish, Batu Maung, Penang, Malaysia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Jessica Fanzo
- Berman Institute of Bioethics and Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Stefan Gelcich
- Instituto Milenio en Socio-ecologia Costera (SECOS), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Christopher D Golden
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kelvin D Gorospe
- Department of Environmental Science, American University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Moenieba Isaacs
- Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS), University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Caitlin D Kuempel
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kai N Lee
- Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - M Aaron MacNeil
- Ocean Frontier Institute, Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Eva Maire
- Department of Environmental Science, American University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Jemimah Njuki
- International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC, USA
- UN Women, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nitya Rao
- School of International Development, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - U Rashid Sumaila
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada
- School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada
- LESTARI, National University of Malaysia (International Distinguished Professor), Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Elizabeth R Selig
- Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Colette C C Wabnitz
- Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada
| | - Rosamond L Naylor
- Department of Global Environmental Policy and Center on Food Security and the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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Nutritional implications of international fishing and trade. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2206587119. [PMID: 35733259 PMCID: PMC9245681 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2206587119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
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