We would like to thank the HLPE for the opportunity to comment on this draft report. The draft is comprehensive and covers many important issues and aspects.
We find it essential that the important role of fish in food security and nutrition is adequately taken on board. Both from a health and sustainability perspective an increased consumption of sustainable produced fish is desirable. This work on nutrition and food systems should include reference to relevant past work of the CFS High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE). However reference to the only HLPE report that has been focusing on sustainable fisheries and aquaculture is missing. Consumption of fish and its addition to the diets, especially of low income populations and vulnerable groups, offers important means for improving nutrition. According to the CFS HLPE report: Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture for food security and nutrition (2014), the qualities of fish are not fully recognized in global food security and nutrition, even though fish can provide important nutrients to vulnerable groups such as pregnant and lactating women and children and poor people. Reference is also made to the recommendations in the CFS Global Strategic Framework for Food Security and Nutrition (GSF) which is: to give to fish the position it deserves in food security and nutrition and to make fish a visible, integral element in food security and nutrition strategies, policies and programmes.
Fish in aquaculture systems are efficient converters of feed into protein. Aquatic animal production systems also have a lower carbon footprint per kg output compared with terrestrial animal production systems Nitrogen and phosphorous emissions from aquaculture production systems are much lower compared with beef and pork. (HLPE report: Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture for food security and nutrition, 2014). Looking at the feed conversion rate, fish farming undoubtedly is the most effective production regardless of fish species. In this aspect aquaculture is a great contributor to global food security and nutrition. The draft report should reflect this.
We believe that responsible fisheries and aquaculture development will be key in achieving the 2030 Agenda. These sectors are important for several SDGs. As stated I the report from Rio+20 outcome document "The future we want": ‘Everyone has the right to have access to safe, sufficient and nutritious food’, and: ‘Healthy marine ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and sustainable aquaculture have a crucial role for food security and nutrition and in providing for the livelihoods of millions of people.’ Hence we encourage you to make the role of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture for food security and nutrition more visible in this report.
Anita Utheim Iversen