The whole fish on the table: maximizing nutrient utilization from global capture fisheries

Abstract

Abstract The global food system is facing the challenge of producing sufficient nutrients to accommodate future demands within planetary boundaries, while reducing malnutrition. Although nutrient-rich seafood can play a prominent role in resolving this challenge, seafood from capture fisheries is currently partly wasted. The aim of this study was to quantify the nutrient contribution from capture fisheries under the assumption that all captured seafood and byproducts from seafood processing would be used for human consumption. Our results show that available seafood per capita can be doubled without increasing harvest when all reported, illegal, and discarded capture as food, complemented with processing byproducts are used. Moreover, seafood contributes significantly to daily nutrient requirements – e.g., omega-3 can be fully met. These results indicate that putting the whole fish on the table can increase nutrient availability from capture fisheries substantially and sustainably.