Title
Pacific Food Systems: The role of fish and other aquatic foods for nutrition and health
Author(s)
Lydia O'Meara; Philippa Cohen; Rosemary I'ilu Kafa; Jillian Tutuo Wate; Joelle ALbert; Jessica Bogard; Gianna Bonis-Profumo; Sarah Burkhart; Aurelie Delisle; Simon Diffey; Taati Eria; Anna Farmery; Karen Fukofuka; Sangeeta Mangubhai; Marisa E.V. Mitchell; Elesiva Na'ati; Joseph Myemah Myemah; Tim Pickering; Sarah Sutcliffe; Libby Swanepoel; Shakuntala Thilsted; Fiasili Vaeau Lam
Published
2023
Published Version DOI
https://doi.org/10.4060/cc5796en
Abstract
From expert consultation, literature review, and the Pacific Food System regional dialogues (2021), this report distills seven recommendations, and their rationale, for realizing and maintaining the full nutritional and health benefits of fish and other aquatic foods in the Pacific Island region. The majority of Pacific Islanders live close to the coast, where harvesting, exchanging and eating fish and other aquatic foods are a part of daily life. Fish and other aquatic foods provide a rich source of micronutrients, omega-3 fatty acids and lean protein, and as such, provide a necessary complement to the carbohydrate-rich diets among Pacific Islanders. Because of shifts in broader dietary patterns, Pacific Islanders are struggling with the triple burden of malnutrition: undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and overnutrition. The diagnosis and recommendations provided in this report consider nutrition improvements that fisheries and coastal resource management can contribute to, but also brings to the fore the complementary intersectoral actions, that address both upstream and downstream determinants of malnutrition, needed to improve nutrition and health among Pacific Islanders. The seven recommendations to realize the full nutritional and health benefits of fish and other aquatic food are; (1) Safeguard fish and other aquatic foods for sustainable healthy diets: (2) Invest in multisectoral collaborations for nutrition: (3) Protect aquatic ecosystems to ensure a continuous supply of biodiverse fish and other aquatic foods for diets: (4) Raise awareness of the nutritional and health benefits of eating fish and other aquatic foods: (5) Design nutrition-sensitive strategies that serve women and also children during the first 1000 days of life (6) Develop and deliver food preservation techniques appropriate for fish and other aquatic foods to fill shortfalls (7) Strengthen trade and supply chains toward nutrition outcomes.
Keywords
food resources; fish consumption; healthy diets; human nutrition; nutrition education; awareness raising; Pacific Islands
Full Citation
O’Meara, L., Cohen, P.J., I’ilu Kafa, R., Wate, J.T., Albert, J., Bogard, J., Bonis-Profumo, G., Burkhart, S., Delisle, A., Diffey, S., Eria, T., Farmery, A., Fukofuka, K., Mangubhai, S., Mitchell, M.E.V., Na’ati, E., Nyemah, J.N., Pickering, T., Sutcliffe, S., Swanepoel, L., Thilsted, S.H. and Lam, F.V. 2023. Pacific food systems – The role of fish and other aquatic foods for nutrition and health. Apia, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cc5796en

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