IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v11y2019i6p1636-d215009.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Contribution of Fish to Food and Nutrition Security in Eastern Africa: Emerging Trends and Future Outlooks

Author

Listed:
  • Kevin Obiero

    (Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), Pap-Onditi 136–40111, Kenya
    Department of Water, Atmosphere and Environment, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Straße 33, A-1180 Vienna, Austria)

  • Paul Meulenbroek

    (Department of Water, Atmosphere and Environment, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Straße 33, A-1180 Vienna, Austria)

  • Silke Drexler

    (Department of Water, Atmosphere and Environment, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Straße 33, A-1180 Vienna, Austria)

  • Adamneh Dagne

    (National Fisheries and Aquatic Life Research Center, Sebeta 64, Ethiopia)

  • Peter Akoll

    (Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, School of Biosciences, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala 7062, Uganda)

  • Robinson Odong

    (Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, School of Biosciences, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala 7062, Uganda)

  • Boaz Kaunda-Arara

    (Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, University of Eldoret, Eldoret 1125-30100, Kenya)

  • Herwig Waidbacher

    (Department of Water, Atmosphere and Environment, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Straße 33, A-1180 Vienna, Austria)

Abstract

：Approximately 200 million people in Africa derive high-quality and low-cost proteins from fish. However, the consumption of fish is not fully exploited to combat the “triple burden” of malnutrition—obesity, undernutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies which are the leading causes of poor health in the region. There is still limited knowledge on quantitative information to guide policy makers in developing evidence-based actions that can improve the availability of and access to nutritious food for healthy and sustained diets among children and care givers. In this paper, we review the available literature with the aim of assessing and quantifying the extent to which fish contributes towards fighting food and nutrition insecurity in the Eastern Africa subregion. Key results reveal the region is characterized by fish supply deficits, and hence, low levels of fish consumed per person. Nonetheless, the increase in fish imports, and the growing supply of fish from aquaculture are likely to improve the per-capita fish intake. Fish trade is generally bidirectional, with exports exceeding imports in value terms, while significant challenges still hinder domestic and intra-regional fish trade. The Eastern Africa region is projected to realize increased fish consumption from 4.80 kg in 2013 to 5.49 kg by 2022. Rising population growth and income levels imply that the region will need 2.49 million tonnes of fish to fill the demand–supply gaps. We recommend that food security and nutritional programmes should recognize the potential of fish in providing essential micronutrients from the aspects of improved dietary quality, nutritional status, and general wellbeing of the region’s fast growing population.

Suggested Citation

  • Kevin Obiero & Paul Meulenbroek & Silke Drexler & Adamneh Dagne & Peter Akoll & Robinson Odong & Boaz Kaunda-Arara & Herwig Waidbacher, 2019. "The Contribution of Fish to Food and Nutrition Security in Eastern Africa: Emerging Trends and Future Outlooks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-15, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:6:p:1636-:d:215009
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/6/1636/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/6/1636/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Thilsted, Shakuntala Haraksingh & Thorne-Lyman, Andrew & Webb, Patrick & Bogard, Jessica Rose & Subasinghe, Rohana & Phillips, Michael John & Allison, Edward Hugh, 2016. "Sustaining healthy diets: The role of capture fisheries and aquaculture for improving nutrition in the post-2015 era," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 126-131.
    2. Béné, Christophe & Arthur, Robert & Norbury, Hannah & Allison, Edward H. & Beveridge, Malcolm & Bush, Simon & Campling, Liam & Leschen, Will & Little, David & Squires, Dale & Thilsted, Shakuntala H. &, 2016. "Contribution of Fisheries and Aquaculture to Food Security and Poverty Reduction: Assessing the Current Evidence," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 177-196.
    3. Gerald Nelson & Jessica Bogard & Keith Lividini & Joanne Arsenault & Malcolm Riley & Timothy B. Sulser & Daniel Mason-D’Croz & Brendan Power & David Gustafson & Mario Herrero & Keith Wiebe & Karen Coo, 2018. "Income growth and climate change effects on global nutrition security to mid-century," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 1(12), pages 773-781, December.
    4. Christopher D. Golden & Edward H. Allison & William W. L. Cheung & Madan M. Dey & Benjamin S. Halpern & Douglas J. McCauley & Matthew Smith & Bapu Vaitla & Dirk Zeller & Samuel S. Myers, 2016. "Nutrition: Fall in fish catch threatens human health," Nature, Nature, vol. 534(7607), pages 317-320, June.
    5. Chan, C.Y. & Tran, N. & Dao, C.D. & Sulser, T.B. & Phillips, M.J. & Batka, M. & Wiebe, K. & Preston, N., 2017. "Fish to 2050 in the ASEAN region," Monographs, The WorldFish Center, number 40692, April.
    6. Marco Fugazza, 2017. "Fish Trade And Policy: A Primer On Non-Tariff Measures," UNCTAD Blue Series Papers 76, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Cheserek, Maureen Jepkorir & Obiero, Kevin O & Menach, Evans & Ogello, Erick Ochieng, 2022. "Fish and fish products consumption behaviours and attitudes of farmers in western Kenya," African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development (AJFAND), African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development (AJFAND), vol. 22(09).
    2. Edward E. Onumah & Elizabeth A. Quaye & Anderson K. Ahwireng & Benjamin B. Campion, 2020. "Fish Consumption Behaviour and Perception of Food Security of Low-Income Households in Urban Areas of Ghana," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-16, September.
    3. Rodney T. Muringai & Paramu Mafongoya & Romano T. Lottering & Raymond Mugandani & Denver Naidoo, 2021. "Unlocking the Potential of Fish to Improve Food and Nutrition Security in Sub-Saharan Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.
    4. Tran, Nhuong & Chu, Long & Chan, Chin Yee & Peart, Jeffrey & Nasr-Allah, Ahmed M. & Charo-Karisa, Harrison, 2022. "Prospects of fish supply-demand and its implications for food and nutrition security in Egypt," SocArXiv pbdkg, Center for Open Science.
    5. Ratner, B. D. & Dubois, Mark J. & Morrison, T. H. & Tezzo, X. & Song, A. M. & Mbaru, E. & Chimatiro, S. K. & Cohen, P. J., 2022. "A framework to guide research engagement in the policy process, with application to small-scale fisheries," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 1-27(4):45..

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Xavier Tezzo & Simon R. Bush & Peter Oosterveer & Ben Belton, 2021. "Food system perspective on fisheries and aquaculture development in Asia," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 38(1), pages 73-90, February.
    2. Farmery, Anna K. & Kajlich, Lana & Voyer, Michelle & Bogard, Jessica R. & Duarte, Augustinha, 2020. "Integrating fisheries, food and nutrition – Insights from people and policies in Timor-Leste," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    3. Sean Irwin & Mark S. Flaherty & Joachim Carolsfeld, 2021. "The contribution of small-scale, privately owned tropical aquaculture to food security and dietary diversity in Bolivia," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(1), pages 199-218, February.
    4. Naylor, Rosamond & Fang, Safari & Fanzo, Jessica, 2023. "A global view of aquaculture policy," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    5. Filipski, Mateusz & Belton, Ben, 2018. "Give a Man a Fishpond: Modeling the Impacts of Aquaculture in the Rural Economy," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 205-223.
    6. Michael Fabinyi, 2018. "Food and water insecurity in specialised fishing communities: evidence from the Philippines," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 42(4), pages 243-253, November.
    7. Tiptiwa Sampantamit & Pavarot Noranarttragoon & Carl Lachat & Peter Goethals, 2019. "Evolution of Fish and Shellfish Supplies Originating from Wild Fisheries in Thailand Between 1995 and 2015," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-16, December.
    8. Louise Teh & Vicky Lam & William Cheung & Dana Miller & Lydia Teh & U. Rashid Sumaila, 2017. "Impact of high seas closure on food security in low-income fish-dependent countries," Chapters, in: Paulo A.L.D. Nunes & Lisa E. Svensson & Anil Markandya (ed.), Handbook on the Economics and Management of Sustainable Oceans, chapter 11, pages 232-262, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    9. Wallner-Hahn, Sieglind & Dahlgren, Malin & de la Torre-Castro, Maricela, 2022. "Linking seagrass ecosystem services to food security: The example of southwestern Madagascar’s small-scale fisheries," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    10. Constanza Gonzalez Parrao & Shannon Shisler & Marta Moratti & Cem Yavuz & Arnab Acharya & John Eyers & Birte Snilstveit, 2021. "Aquaculture for improving productivity, income, nutrition and women's empowerment in low‐ and middle‐income countries: A systematic review and meta‐analysis," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(4), December.
    11. Wehner, Nicholas & Fabinyi, Michael, 2018. "Environmental fixes and historical trajectories of marine resource use in Southeast Asia," MarXiv bej53, Center for Open Science.
    12. Pauline Kamermans & Brenda Walles & Marloes Kraan & Luca A. Van Duren & Frank Kleissen & Tom M. Van der Have & Aad C. Smaal & Marnix Poelman, 2018. "Offshore Wind Farms as Potential Locations for Flat Oyster ( Ostrea edulis ) Restoration in the Dutch North Sea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-24, October.
    13. Tiptiwa Sampantamit & Long Ho & Carl Lachat & Nantida Sutummawong & Patrick Sorgeloos & Peter Goethals, 2020. "Aquaculture Production and Its Environmental Sustainability in Thailand: Challenges and Potential Solutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-17, March.
    14. Morteza Akbari & Pantea Foroudi & Mohana Shahmoradi & Hamid Padash & Zahra Shahabaldini Parizi & Ala Khosravani & Pouria Ataei & Maria Teresa Cuomo, 2022. "The Evolution of Food Security: Where Are We Now, Where Should We Go Next?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-27, March.
    15. Stads, Gert-Jan & Wiebe, Keith D. & Nin-Pratt, Alejandro & Sulser, Timothy B. & Benfica, Rui & Reda, Fasil & Khetarpal, Ravi, 2022. "Research for the future: Investments for efficiency, sustainability, and equity," IFPRI book chapters, in: 2022 Global food policy report: Climate change and food systems, chapter 4, pages 38-47, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    16. Rodney T. Muringai & Paramu Mafongoya & Romano T. Lottering & Raymond Mugandani & Denver Naidoo, 2021. "Unlocking the Potential of Fish to Improve Food and Nutrition Security in Sub-Saharan Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.
    17. Nicky Roberts & Buchari Mengge & Brietta Oaks & Novita Sari & Irsan & Austin Humphries, 2023. "Fish consumption pathways and food security in an Indonesian fishing community," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 15(1), pages 1-19, February.
    18. Leah Salm & Nicholas Nisbett & Laura Cramer & Stuart Gillespie & Philip Thornton, 2021. "How climate change interacts with inequity to affect nutrition," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 12(2), March.
    19. Mahbub Hossain & M. Niaz Asadullah & Uma Kambhampati, 2021. "Women’s empowerment and gender-differentiated food allocation in Bangladesh," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 739-767, September.
    20. Li, Jiaxin & Wang, Zihan & Cheng, Xin & Shuai, Jing & Shuai, Chuanmin & Liu, Jing, 2020. "Has solar PV achieved the national poverty alleviation goals? Empirical evidence from the performances of 52 villages in rural China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:6:p:1636-:d:215009. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.