August 14, 2023 | WorldFish | Source
Aquatic food systems hold great potential as a sustainable solution to address global food and nutrition security amid the challenges posed by climate change. A recent UN event, "Blue Transformation – advancing aquatic food systems for people, planet and prosperity," emphasized the importance of harnessing the potential of aquatic food systems, such as fish and aquaculture, to combat hunger, poverty, and the impact of climate change.
The event highlighted that over 3 billion people rely on aquatic food systems for at least 20 percent of their animal protein, and these systems provide livelihoods for approximately 600 million people. Aquatic food production is at a record high and is expected to grow by 11 percent by 2030, offering promise in feeding a growing global population.
Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), stressed the role of fish and aquaculture in fighting hunger and poverty, especially as the number of hungry people has increased by 122 million since the pandemic.
To fully realize the potential of aquatic food systems, international cooperation, research, and knowledge-based management are essential. Anne Beathe Tvinnereim, the Norwegian Minister for International Development, emphasized the importance of data on food safety and nutrients to inform food and nutrition policies.
The transformative impacts of sustainable aquatic food production were highlighted in WorldFish's 2022 Annual Report, which showcased success stories from communities around the world. For example, brine shrimp farming in Bangladesh has significantly increased salt farmer incomes, while community-based resource management in the Solomon Islands supports sustainable local economies and environments.
WorldFish is launching the Asia–Africa BlueTech Superhighway (AABS) project to further harness the potential of aquatic food systems in Asia and Africa, aiming to transform food and nutrition security and livelihoods for millions.
Aquatic food systems offer a promising path to address food security challenges while considering the environment and climate resilience.