These MDGs establishes targets for reducing the death of children under five and of women from childbirth. Malnutrition is a major contributor to such deaths. Enabling poor families to acquire a regular supply of affordable fish helps reduce malnutrition because fish is an excellent source of high-quality protein and other nutrients vital to good health, including iron, calcium, potassium, vitamin A, and iodine.
An important “brain food,” fish contains fatty acids that aid fetal brain development and cognitive abilities critical for effective earning. Too, 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 themselves, and also produce healthier babies.
In an impact study of households in Malawi that integrated aquaculture production into regular farm operations, WorldFish found that per capita consumption of fresh fish among the participating families rose by 160%.
In low-income food-deficient countries, fish provide 20% of animal protein in a typical diet, versus 13% in industrialized countries. In Asia, the proportion is 30% and in some regions it is much higher: 51% in Bangladesh, 58% in Indonesia, and 75% in Cambodia.
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Childhood malnutrition can be reduced by as much as 15% by increasing the consumption of fresh fish.
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