Cheap, small species of fish caught in lakes and seas in underdeveloped countries can help fill nutritional gaps for malnourished individuals, especially young children, according to research. The study, “Small pelagic fish supply abundant and accessible micronutrients to low- and middle-income countries,” was published in Nature Food. The researchers found that fish such as herring, sardines and anchovies – known as pelagic fish, meaning they inhabit the upper layers of the open sea – were the cheapest nutritious fish in 72% of countries.
They also found that targeting small pelagic fish could help close nutrition gaps in sub-Saharan Africa, where nutrient deficiencies are on the rise and children under 5 consume only 38% of the recommended seafood intake. Although these small fish are cheap and nutritious, they are already overfished. Only 20% of the current catch of small pelagic fish could meet the recommended dietary intake of fish for all children under 5 living near the coast.
“This study shows that small pelagic fish are relatively accessible, high-quality sources of nutrients,” said Kathryn Fiorella, assistant professor in the Department of Public and Ecosystem Health in the College of Veterinary Medicine and co-author of the study. “This is especially true in countries where access to small pelagic fish can be a key tool in addressing malnutrition.” Small pelagic fish are rich in selenium, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, iron and calcium and are up to twice as available as other fish groups. The researchers also found that cold-water species that live near the seabed, such as cod and flounder, are the least available.
The researchers used catch, economic and nutrient data on 2,348 fish species to identify the most available and nutritious fish in 39 low- and middle-income countries. The research is part of the Illuminating Hidden Harvests project, through which an international team of researchers and fisheries scientists collected data on catch volumes and economic and nutrient data for more than two-thirds of the world’s fisheries. The findings will help inform public health and fisheries policy in places where fish nutrient data are scarce.
The paper was led by James Robinson, Senior Research Fellow at Lancaster University. Fiorella worked on detailing available nutrients in fish species to assess how humans might better use certain fish to target micronutrient deficiencies. The fish nutrient data she collected informed the study. The study also highlights threats to the supply of these small fish from overfishing, international global demand and the feed and fish oil industries. Small-scale pelagic fisheries contribute hidden or underreported environmental, social and economic benefits, making it increasingly important to develop sustainable and equitable policies to manage small-scale fisheries, according to the study.
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