Ocean Science in Action - Oceans of the future
9. Small Pelagic Fisheries of Pemba Channel, Tanzania
9.5 How Stable are the Pillars of Food Security? Pillars three and four: Food Utilisation and Stability
Video duration - 07:24
What role does fish play in food utilisation?
Food Utilisation relates to how the food we consume is transformed into nutritional and health benefits. Fish is a known source of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins. In coastal communities where the main activity is fishing, fish becomes an integral part of the food on a typical plate of food.
Measuring Food Utilisation
The basic measure of food utilisation is the consumption of foods both in quality and quantity that is adequate to meet energy and nutrient requirements.
Food Stability and Fisheries
It is interesting to assess capture fisheries within the context of food stability. This food source is not as easily quantified or managed as field crops or fish farms. Changing ocean productivity, over-fishing, and extreme ocean events are just a few of the major stressors impacting fish stock and stability of this food source.
Measuring Food Stability
The FAO indicators of food stability are per capita Food Production Variability and per capita Food Supply Variability.
Stability on a household level would involve analysing fluctuations of food availability and intake in a household over a time period. Within marine food security, fluctuations in fish catch would be one of the main indicators of food stability.
Dr S. Taylor - NOC, Dr N. Jiddawi - IMS, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Further Reading:
Ashley, J. (2016). Food security in the developing world. Amsterdam: Academic Press