Fish for Food Security and Better Health

Fish, as a source of “rich food for poor people”, can play an important role in improving food security and nutritional status. Fish are an excellent source of high-quality protein and other nutrients vital to good health, including iron, calcium, potassium, vitamin A, and iodine.

Fish contains fatty acids that aid fetal brain development and cognitive abilities critical for effective learning. Also, the nutritional benefits of fish lower the risk of low birth weight in infants, a major factor in infant mortality. Women who consume fish regularly as part of their diets enjoy better health and produce stronger babies.

Better nutrition through fish consumption resulting from aquaculture can help people living with HIV better cope with the infection. Commercial small-scale fisherfolk in Africa have a particularly high rate of HIV infection, caused by a higher risk of exposure to the virus resulting from complex patterns of behaviour that WorldFish and partners are researching in order to devise interventions. The WorldFish Center is working to mitigate the effects of this HIV epidemic through both its global small-scale fisheries and aquaculture initiatives.

Relief for people affected by HIV/AIDS through integrated agriculture-aquaculture

Fish and Food Security in Africa
C. Béné and S. Heck

Fish and Human Nutrition
D.M. Chilima