Book Description
As populations grow and urbanize, demand also increases for animal-source foods, including farmed livestock and fish, and for feed products that can include fish-derived ingredients. Low- and middle-income countries are increasingly concerned about the fish-derived ingredient and fish-based feed industry, as many of the fish species used for fish-derived ingredients and fish-based feed production are important for communities as a source of livelihoods and food and nutrition security. The objective of this study was to understand the drivers, outcomes, and trade-offs of the fish-based feed industry for sub-Saharan Africa. The study, using various information sources and mixed methods for data collection and analysis, found that fish-based feeds are mainly exported, offering some economic benefits to governments and fish workers throughout the value chain. At the same time, however, the study results suggest that the industry constitutes a threat to the livelihoods and food and nutrition security of local communities. Looking to the future, a range of actions that are required to ensure that the fish-based feed industry contributes to equitable social and economic development, nutritional benefits, and environmental sustainability were identified. Using a stakeholder Delphi assessment, the study prioritized recommendations for decision-making and future research and these included the establishment of and/or compliance with regulations for environmentally friendly and healthy/safe fish-derived ingredients and fish-based feed production, as well as continued efforts to identify and promote alternative efficient to use feed products that do not rely (or rely less on) fish-based ingredients.
