Presentation by panelists Shakuntala  Thilsted, Molly Ahern, Patrick Webb, Tinna Manani, Mrityunjoy Kunda, Ravishankar C.N. and Sandra Caroline Grant on 'Nourishing people and planet with aquatic foods' at the UN Food System Summit Science Day Side Event on Tuesday, 6 July 2021.

2. The Role of Aquatic Foods in Sustainable Healthy Diets
UN Nutrition Discussion Paper

3. Background & Objectives
Background
• Global Narrative on Nutrition
• Need to promote diets that are socially,
economically and environmentally sustainable
• Present food systems fail to recognize the
diversity of aquatic foods and their potential
for sustainable healthy diets – providing not
just protein, but also essential micronutrients
and fatty acids
Objectives
• To build consensus on the role of aquatic foods
in sustainable healthy diets
Presenting the breadth of evidence
available to inform and steer policy,
investments and research
•To make full use of the vast potential of aquatic
foods in delivering sustainable healthy diets
Meeting the SDGs

4. Sustainable Healthy Diets
FAO and WHO Guiding Principles for Sustainable Healthy Diets (2019)
Promote all dimensions of individual’s health and wellbeing
Have low environmental pressure and impact
Accessible, affordable, safe, equitable and are culturally acceptable
EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Guidelines (2019)
Emphasizes a plant-forward diet
Identifies environmental limits for sustainable food systems that define a safe operating space for food
production within planetary boundaries
Efforts to promote the growing importance of sustainable healthy diets
Debate on the role of animal-source foods in diets
Simplification of aquatic foods as part of animal-source foods
Failure to recognize the diversity and potential of aquatic foods

5. Defining Aquatic Foods
Fish
Fish, crustaceans, mollusk and other
aquatic animals, excludes aquatic
mammals, reptiles, seaweeds and
other aquatic plants
(FAO, 2020)
Seafood
Definitions vary, most common:
edible marine fish and shellfish
(Merriam Webster)
Aquatic Foods
Animals, plants and
microorganisms that are
farmed in and harvested
from water, as well as
cell- and plant-based
foods emerging from new
technologies
(WorldFish, 2020)

6. Why Aquatic Foods?
Multiple Nutrients

7. Why Aquatic Foods?
Pregnant and Lactating
Women
Greater Dietary Diversity
Positive Birth Outcomes
Improved nutrient composition
of breastmilk
Infants and Young
Children
Cognitive Development
Reduced Stunting and Severe
Acute Malnutrition
Adolescents
Cognitive Development
Higher IQ
Improved school performance
Positive behavioural and
mental health outcomes
Adults
Reduced All-Cause Mortality,
blood pressure and cholesterol
Reduced risk of death from
coronary heart and cardiovascular
diseases
Improved work performance
Nutrition and Public Health

8. Why Aquatic Foods?
Sustainability
Economy
Social
Environment
In many poor, rural populations,
aquatic foods may be the most
affordable and preferred animal-
source food
Many rural poor are engaged in
small-scale fisheries and
aquaculture for livelihoods
Aquatic foods are produced more
sustainably than terrestrial animal-
sourced food
Lower-trophic species such as
pelagic small fish, bivalves and
seaweed are more sustainably
harvested
3.3 billion people depend on fish and
fish based products for 20% of animal
protein intake
59.5 million people employed in the
fisheries and aquaculture primary
sector, 14% are women
50% women engaged when secondary
sector is included

9. Menu of Solutions for Aquatic Food
Consumption
Promote consumer behavior and demand for
more sustainable, diverse and low-trophic
aquatic foods through:
Food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG)
Public procurement (school feeding, social safety nets)
Nutrition interventions in the first 1000 days of life
Innovative, affordable and convenient aquatic food
products from low-trophic aquatic foods and by-products
Photo Credit: Jellyfish ingredient project
Photo Credit: WorldFish
Photo Credit: Zambia National Food and Nutrition Commission, WorldFish

10. Sustainable Supply
Target diverse aquatic foods, particularly low-trophic species with high
biomass
Focus on sustainable harvesting and catch use (e.g. encouraging
consumers to choose ‘catch of the day’ and by-catch)
Promote sustainable and diversified aquaculture approaches that
mainstream nutrition
Reduce the loss and waste and encourage the use of by-products and of
aquatic foods
Promote efficient use of feed and direct consumption of edible fish
Support small-scale fishers and processors to produce aquatic food
products with an long shelf life.
Adopt and implement the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable
Small-scale Fisheries and the CFS Recommendations on Fisheries and
Aquaculture
Menu of Solutions for Aquatic Food
Consumption

11. Democratize Knowledge, Data and Technologies
Improve quality of data
Nutritional composition and contaminants
Better understand consumption patterns
Consumer demand
Engage private sector to develop desirable,
convenient products
Menu of Solutions for Aquatic Food
Consumption

12. Diverse aquatic foods have an essential role in
sustainable healthy diets for many people around the
world, now and in the future.

13. Harnessing Aquaculture for
Healthy Diets
Opportunities and Challenges
Patrick Webb
6th July 2021

14. World Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture Production
Aquaculture
Fisheries

15. Aquaculture encompasses
a diverse range of systems
• Traditional systems
• Pond aquaculture
• Aquaponics and recirculating
aquaculture systems
• Cage-based in lakes and rivers
• Mariculture

16. Land-water relationships
• Trade-offs between prioritising staple foods, and
diversification of food production.
• Vietnam has actively encouraged conversion of
less-productive land to fishponds to enhance
farmer earnings, while maintaining a minimum
of four million ha of rice fields.
• Similar trade-offs occur with respect to the use
of fresh water.
• Fish farms in Egypt producing Nile tilapia and
North African catfish re-use the same water to
grow lettuce, basil and mint.

17. Potential income growth
through aquaculture
• Scale constraints: Limited ability of
small aquaculture producers to
contribute substantially to poverty
alleviation and national fish production.
• Input quality remains low, with poor
access to higher-value inputs along
value chains.
• Competition with lower cost imported
fish is a concern for local SMEs.
“Aquaculture has real potential to
accelerate economic growth, provide
employment opportunities, improve food
security, and deliver an environmentally
sustainable source of good nutrition for
millions of people, especially in low- and
middle-income countries”
Sir John Beddington
Chair of Global Panel and
Former United Kingdom Government Chief Scientific Adviser

18. Saving forage fish by
using novel feeds
• About half of all aquaculture uses external
feed inputs.
• In 2015, 17 million tons of forage fish were
used for aquaculture feed.
• Local feed industries can create jobs while
enhancing productivity.
• New technologies using algae, fungi, bacteria,
and single-cell organisms and insects.
• However, most research on feed innovations
has not been proven at scale.
Projected demand for forage fish with/without
use of novel feed ingredients under 3 scenarios

19. Addressing food loss and
waste in fish value chains
• ~35% of global fisheries and aquaculture
harvest lost or wasted annually.
• Limited research on causes and cost-effective
solutions
• Possibilities: cold storage, availability of ice,
upgraded transport infrastructure, improved
preservation techniques such as drying, salting
and smoking fish to reduce loss and waste.

20. Antimicrobial use and
resistance
• Growth in aquaculture is constrained by
aquatic diseases.
• Use of antimicrobials to control diseases can
lead to drug residues and spread of
antimicrobial resistant bacteria.
• A One Health approach involving
communication, cooperation and
collaboration across human, animal and
environmental health disciplines is essential.

21. Moving towards sustainable aquaculture
The sustainable commoditisation of fish
• Aquaculture can play significant role in meeting
rising demand, but only if fish managed
sustainably.
• Aquaculture will be impacted by climate change
– rising sea levels, increasing water
temperature, ocean acidification.
• Certain aquaculture practices can contribute to
environmental damage, like eutrophication.
• Sustainable intensification may help
productivity and cut environmental impact.
Source: Belton (2020)

22. Recommendations
1. Investment needed to enhance fish feed options in LMIC markets.
Stop relying on capture fisheries to feed aquaculture.
2. Address the growing threat of antimicrobial resistant bacteria.
3. Prioritise sustainability in all investments.
4. Innovative technology and practice needed to significantly cut
loss and waste in fish value chains.
5. Genetic improvement of fish species holds huge potential.

23. Download the full brief:
https://www.glopan.org

24. Sustainable supply chain innovations to improve
nutrient quality and shelf life of fish to transform
women’s livelihoods and nutrition security: The
case of solar fish drying in Malawi
UN Food Systems Summit Side Event, 6th July 2021
Tinna A. Ngʼongʼola-Manani, PhD.
Faculty of Food and Human Sciences,
LUANAR,
Bunda College,
Malawi.
tmanani@luanar.ac.mw

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Case study – Chitipa, Malawi
v Project implementation area:
§ Chitipa District
v The objectives were:
§ To determine household fish consumption frequency
§ To determine fish consumption practices among
children (6 to 23 months)
§ To explore use of solar dries and fish powders in
increasing availability of fish for household use
v Cross section study
§ Qualitative and quantitative studies Fig 1

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Most consumed fish in Chitipa - Malawi
Sun dried Usipa
Engraulicypris sardella
Lake Malawi Sardine
Sun dried Dagaa
Rastrineobola argentea
Lake Victoria Sardine
Sun dried Kapenta
Limnothrissa miodon
Lake Tanganyika Sardine
Parboiled Usipa
Engraulicypris sardella
Lake Malawi Sardine
Fig 2: Most consumed Fish in Chiitipa

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Fish consumption in Chitipa
v Mean number of days 1.2 days/ week (at baseline –
2016)
§ Low consumption because 83% faced barriers
• Seasonal availability of Fish - Unavailable certain months of
the year, hence becomes expensive
§ Lack of confidence on quality and safety of fish
• Poor post handling practices during transportation and
marketing
§ Dried small pelagic fish are abundant
• Hard to chew for children, presents poor child feeding
practices
• Children mostly given watery broth
Fig 3: Post harvest handling of fish

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Innovations to increase fish utilization
v Solar drying improves nutrient
quality and safety of fish;
increases access to better
markets for dried fish; reduces
losses during drying
v Porridge
v Samp
v Vegetables
v Snacks – cakes,
doughnuts, scones,
fritters
v Packaging using local
materials to maintain quality
during transportation and retail
v Fish powder for nutrient dense
foods and better utilization of fish
during child feeding
Snacks sold by
women to
increase
household
income
Fig 4: Innovations to improve post-harvest handling and child feeding challenges

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Shelf life of fish powders
v Powder Reduces bulkiness
of fish and offers
opportunity for
preservation – overcoming
seasonal availability
How long can the fish powders
be kept at room temperature in
local packaging materials?
Fig 5: Locally available packaging materials studied

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Shelf life of fish powders
Figure 6: Moisture content profile solar dried fish powders of E.sardella stored in polywoven sacks and low
density polyethylene bags

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Conclusions
üThe study established that the most consumed fish in Chitipa are
small fish species. However, frequency of fish consumption was
low because fish availability which is seasonal.
üSolar dried fish powders can be kept for 16 weeks to longer than
24 weeks, depending on packaging material
üStorage of fish powders in proper storage materials can over come
the challenge of seasonal availability and increase utilization of
fish among children throughout the year.

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Acknowledgements

33. UN Food Systems Summit 2021 Science Day Side Event
‘Nourishing people and planet with aquatic foods’
(6 July 2021)
Presentation on
Nutrition-sensitive approaches to production increase
sustainability and access to diverse aquatic foods at
scale: Successful science-based policies in Bangladesh
Professor Dr. Mrityunjoy Kunda
Sylhet Agricultural University, Bangladesh

34. Present context of Bangladesh
- National average intake of fish 22 kg/person/year
- Average consumption of fish for poor people 10kg/person/year
- Many of the poor have no pond and less money to buy fish
Why aquatic food is important?
- Important pathway to ensure food and nutrition security
- Highly bioavailable micronutrient, vitamins & essential fatty acid
- Necessary for brain and cognitive growth and overall physical
wellbeing

35. Key approaches
- Fish diversity in pond polyculture was increased
- Promotion of mola carplet in pond polyculture
- Prioritized nutrition-sensitive investment in CIP-2
- Huge scope in seasonal floodplain, rice fields and
pond connected to rice field
- Need to revive other imporant SIS in the open water
and incorporate into the pond polyculture.
Nutrition sensitive approaches to small scale fisheries?
- Ensure storage facilities
- Reduce post-harvest loss
- Create landing facilities

36. Political commitment
- PM of Bangladesh instructed to enhance indigenous fish and
small species of prawn
- Ministry of fisheries and livestock and other relevant
departments has take several initiatives
- Recently a workshop was taken place organized by BFRI
Initiatives of Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI)
- BFRI committed to develop breeding protocol and culture
techniques of 30 important SIS
- Breeding protocol of 22 species already in place
- Many of them already been introduced in
existing culture system

37. Initiatives of Department of Fisheries, Bangladesh (DoF)
- Undertaken different projects to enhance the cultivation of SIS
- Establishment of fish sanctuary, fry release program, beel
nursery program are noticeable
- Banning the use of poison to clean the ponds before stocking
Initiatives from academicians
- Academicians of different universities carrying out researches
on SIS promotion
- Dhela (Osteobrama cotio) found to be suitable candidate like
mola in the carp polyculture

38. Policies and regulations
- National Fisheries Policy 1998
- Bangladesh Delta plan 2100
- Master Plan of Haor areas
- Protection and conservation of fish act 1950
- Nutrition sensitive aquatic food systems should be
incorporate into the curriculum of fisheries education

40. FISH FOR NUTRITION
Options & strategies for inclusion in healthy diets
UN FOOD SYSTEM SUMMIT
6th July 2021
RAVISHANKAR C.N. ICAR – Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Kerala, India
Director of ICAR-CIFT

41. 1st in Milk production
Largest producer of
pulses
2nd largest producer of rice, wheat,
sugarcane, groundnut, vegetables,
fruit and cotton
Leading producer of spices,
plantation crops, poultry &
livestock
3rd in total fish production
& 2nd in Aquaculture
FOOD PRODUCTION
- on the side of Indian’s Pride
India produces world’s
10.9% fruits and 8.6%
vegetables
Worth $ 2.94 trillion, India is the
world’s Fifth largest economy
Source: http://www.fao.org/india/fao-in-india/india-at-a-glance/en/

42. In India about
14.8 % population
(189.2 million) are
undernourished
70% of children aged
from 6-12 months in
both poor and wealthy
rural families are
anaemic
Children under the
age of five, 34.7%
are stunted, &
nearly 20% are
suffering from
severe wasting IDA (Iron Deficiency
Anaemia) prevailed
49.5% in 6 - 23 month
old and 39.9% in 24 -
58 month old children
About 53% of
women of age
group 15-49 years
are anaemic
1
2
3
4
5
Major Issues with regard to
Health & Nutrition

43. § Aquatic foods play vital role in
addressing issues of Health and
Nutrition
§ Indian per capita fish consumption is
only 50% of global average
§ Need to promote fish as healthier
substitute & make it available to all,
specially women & children
Why Fish ?

44. ICAR – CENTRAL INSTITUTE OF FISHERIES TECHNOLOGY
Set up in 1957, Only Technology Institute in the country catering to
Harvest and Post-Harvest Fisheries
Awarded with
Outstanding ICAR
Institution Award Thrice
HEAD QUARTERS : Kochi RESEARCH CENTRES: Veraval (Gujarat); Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Mumbai (Maharashtra)
OUR FOCUS
National Reference
Laboratory
Business
Incubation
Centre
National Referral
Laboratory
Professional Service Functions
• Technology Transfer
• Consultancy
• Contract Research
• Capacity Building
• Analytical Services
• Entrepreneurship Development
ISO 17025 Accredited
NABL Laboratories
Centre of excellence
for International
Training

45. Promoting fish consumption at field level – Interventions by CIFT
§ Nutrient Profiling and Evaluation of Fish as a Dietary
Component: Database on nutritional profile of major
fish species in India
§ MEGHALAYA: Intervention studies with Fortified Fish Soup in
adolescent girls in Jowai district through ICDS showed
significant improvement in their health status
§ ODISHA: Trained fisherwomen at Adava in Gajapathi District,
Odisha for preparation of simple value added fish products
like cutlets, wafers, iron-enriched fish powder to improve
nutritional status of women and children

46. ICAR-CIFT collaboration with WorldFish
Consumption pattern study in 4
states among pregnant / lactating
women and children
(Kerala, Karnataka, ODISHA & Meghalaya)
§ Prevailing fish consumption practice
§ Consumer preference for fish based products
§ Available fishery resources for product
sustainability
Developing fish products as per
consumer’s preference and dietary
needs
Nutritional profiling and shelf life
studies of novel fish based products
Study on consumers’ acceptance for
products and establishing
sustainability
§ Easy to prepare Dry fish powder
§ Fortified Fish soup powder
§ Nutrimix (fish with local food grains)
§ Fish snacks like papad, noodles etc.
§ Proximate composition of novel fish products
§ Increasing shelf life through smart packaging
techniques
§ Determining the drivers and barriers of product
acceptance
§ Incubation service for product development
§ Product branding and market linkage

47. MEGHALAYA ODISHA KARNATAKA KERALA
Products proposed for interventions
Value Added
Products
Fish Soup
Powder
Fish based
Snacks
Fish
Nutrimix
Dry Fish
Powder
Fish Oil
Capsules
States Covered

48. Interventions by WorldFish & ICAR-CIFT in Odisha
Government has undertaken various activities for Increasing
Availability/Accessibility & Consumption
§ Fish Based Nutrition included in 5-year State plan
§ 4.24 Million children, Pregnant & Lactating mothers registered under ICDS
Supplementary Nutrition Program
§ Promoting Carp Mola Polyculture in tanks
§ Demonstration of Hygienic Solar Drying by Women SHGs
§ Piloting of Fish Inclusion under Progress in 50 Anganwadis
• Hot Cooked Meal served to 1200 Children
• Take home Ration to 800 Women/Adolescent Girls
• Based on outcomes & experiences, Government would take steps to upscale
this across state

49. Production of Hygienically Solar Dried Fish by Women SHGs
“One District One Product” program under MSME scheme - 50 Solar Fish dryers every year
ICAR-CIFT Designed
Polyhouse Solar Dryer
45 Grams/day/Adult,
3 days a week
Dried Fish Packet in
Take Home Ration
Protein rich Fish
Powder
In Hot Cooked Meal for
Children, 8 Grams/day/child,
5 days a week

50. Fishery Resources
Available for
Upscaling/
Commercial
Production
§ Odisha is Rich in Fisheries Resources (8.8 Lakh Tonnes): Hence
supply assured
§ 95% consume Fish & Per-capita Fish Consumption is 16 Kg/year
§ Potential species are Marine (Sardines/croakers) & Inland
(carps/small indigenous sp)
Products with high potential for nutritional intervention programmes
§ Fortified fish and shellfish soup mix
§ Fish and shellfish wafers/papad/Noodles
§ Dried fish and shellfish
§ Fish and shellfish protein powder/paste
§ Fish oil capsule/powder
§ Instant Fish Gravy Powder
§ Shelf stable ready to serve fish curries
Traditional Recipes:
§ Smoked fish
§ Dry fish with tomato curry
§ Fish wrapped in banana leaf
§ Fish with vegetables / mustard curry
§ Dry fish chutney with onions, garlic and chilly
§ Dry fish with bamboo shoot

51. How ICAR-CIFT handholds Industry for scaling up?
ABI supports entrepreneurs, from startups to sophisticated
businesses in need of R&D back up, office space, pilot/test market,
development of new products.
AGRI-BUSINESS INCUBATION CENTRE
Fish farmers
5%
Commercial
fishing unit
manufacturers
/operators…
Seafood
Processors
21%
Food manufacturers
27%
Retailers
18%
Marketing
firms
6%
Exporters
11%
120 successful graduates 65 new product brands
182 registered incubatees

52. Learnings and Way Forward…
§ For sustained impacts at scale, especially in nutrition-sensitive approaches, bridging
science innovations & Government development programs is very much essential
§ Inter-Departmental Convergence is key to leveraging the resources and bridging the
value chain actors and scheme beneficiaries for quick and wider scaling for impacts
§ Integration of the WorldFish project with Government Departments has led to
quick and effective shaping of Government policies and schemes
§ Funding from USAID for demonstration and piloting has built confidence in local
Government and encouragement for scaling up across the state
§ Partnership with national ICAR research institutes and NGOs has helped to quickly
develop need based fish-based products & to design large scale delivery mechanisms
§ Reaching out to SHGs and SMEs for scaling up, commercial production, marketing
and promotion of fish products

53. very much for your kind attention…

54. Nourishing people and planet with aquatic foods:
Aquatic food game-changing solutions
Climate change services and innovations for fishers to
build resilience to shocks in the Caribbean
UN Food Systems Summit Science Day event hosted by
WorldFish and FAO
Tuesday, 6 July 2021 from 10:30 – 12:00 (CET)

55. • The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) is an inter-governmental
organization, established in 2002, to coordinate and promote regional
cooperation for sustainable use, management and conservation of living marine
resources and marine ecosystems.
• It is the key regional fisheries body for the Caribbean and comprise 17 Member
States and three bodies – the Ministerial Council; the Caribbean Fisheries Forum;
and the CRFM Secretariat.
• The CRFM is governed by the Agreement establishing the Caribbean Community
Common Fisheries Policy
• OBJECTIVE
• (f) integrate environmental, coastal and marine management considerations into fisheries
policy so as to safeguard fisheries and associated ecosystems from anthropogenic threats
and to mitigate the impacts of climate change and natural disasters

56. Coral Restoration: Natural barrier to provide
first line protection from storm surge and
flooding
Climate change is the most serious threat to corals, with
coral loss due to global warming causing increased severity
and frequency of bleaching & thermal stress resulting in
coral mortality. An estimated 19% of the world’s coral reefs
have been lost and a further 35% are seriously threatened,
and one-third of all reef-building corals are at risk of
extinction.
Growing temperature resilient corals (Staghorn – Acropra
cervicornis & Elkhorn – Acropora palmata)
• nursery and micro-fragment
• Out-planting on the reef
• Analyze genetic, coral dispersal & connectivity
• Continue monitoring of bleaching, disease, growth,
survivorship and temperature
• Expand to other Member States

57. Technology: The role of ICT
SIDs are vulnerable to climate change due to
the increased frequency and intensity of
storms. ICT plays a role in making fisheries
more resilient.
Multi-function Apps can reduce fishers’ risks
from natural hazards associated with weather
and climate:
• FEWER – Fisheries Early Warning and
Emergency Response application brings
fishers through the entire disaster cycle to
act in the event of a disaster (MS).
• CLIMA PESCA – provides fishers with
information on the status of weather to
improve efficiency of fishing operations and
safety at sea. www.climapesca.org
• Need SMART phone, internet, repeaters

58. FADs: Fish Aggregating
Device
As fish movement becomes more unpredictable due to
climate change, fishers are forced to search further
offshore for longer periods of time.
Fishers identified FADs as one of the best ways to adapt to
changing climate. FADs attract various stocks resulting in
good catch, less time at sea, and low operational cost
(fuel).
• Co-management arrangement
• Moored FADs
• Small-scale fisheries
• As FAD fisheries developed in the region that
Management Plans are also developed.
• Sub-regional FAD management Plan
• Improved monitoring around FADs

59. Sargassum products for climate
resilience in the Caribbean
Environmental and economic impacts of sargassum
seaweed influx in affected Caribbean countries.
There is an increased need for research to better
understand and utilize Sargassum seaweed.
CRFM and The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food
Research Limited are taking steps to:
• Review raw material safety testing and harvest operations
to use raw material to produce products
• Develop sargassum-derived product formulations and
scalable processes for manufacturing
• Develop a commercialization strategy to support marketing
of sargassum-derived products
• Transfer technical capabilities and attract private sector
engagement/investment into the development of
sargassum-derived product supply chain

60. THANK YOU