Safe aquatic food - Sustainable Food from the Oceans and Inland Waters for Food Security and Nutrition

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The key element SAFE AQUATIC FOOD refers to optimising food safety as it is a prerequisite for increased consumption of aquatic food. Actions linked to this key element rely on understanding: the connection between hygienic production and foodborne illness; the connection between environmental pollution; food production and human health; how contaminants and pollutants end up in the food (value) chain; and levels of contaminants. Relevant SDGs related to this element are SDG 2, 3, , 4, 6, 7,, 8, 9, 12, 14, 16, 17.

Key element SAFE AQUATIC FOOD

Challenge: General food safety

Knowledge

Food standards, guides and codes of practice

Codex Alimentarius (FAO)

Solutions

Food Safety Authorities (legislation, enforcement)

Challenge: Hygiene

SDG 2, 4, 7, 8, 9 and 17
CFS 4A.3 and 4B

Knowledge

Food standards, guides and codes of practice

Codex Alimentarius (FAO)

Cooling systems in countries with high temperature and/or lack of/limited access to electricity (SDG 2.1, 7.1, 7.a, 7.b)

Climate changes affecting preservation (SDG 2.1, 17.7)

Solutions

Alternative and improved ways to preserve fish and seafood,

especially in remote areas (i.e. drying, smoking) (SDG 4.7, 7.a, 9.4, 9.b, 17.7 and CFS 4A.3)

Malawi Solar driers (SDG 7.a and 17.7)

Innovation for better methods of preservation (SGD 4.7, 7.a, 8.2, 8.3, 9.4, 9.b, 17.7)

IFAD has suggestions and tools

Challenge: Contaminants

SDG 3, 6, 12, 14 and 16

Knowledge

Food standards, guides and codes of practice

Codex Alimentarius

Conduct research on contaminants in fish

Monitoring programs

IMR seafood monitoring (Norway)

Feed with low levels of contaminants and pollutants

Connection to terrestrial industry, Contaminants and pollutants from land-based industry ending up in waters

Risk-benefit reports

Solutions

Developing transparent national databases

Seafood database on contaminant and nutrient levels in fish and seafood (Norway) (SDG 3.b)

Make research on contaminants easily accessible to public

Contaminants in the fish caught (Finland)
Seafood database (Norway)

Specific recommendations for eating fish and seafood from polluted areas (SDG 17.18)

Restrictions from known polluted areas (e.g. Baltic sea) (Finland) (SDG 3.9, 3.b)

Finding the source of contamination

Use sustainable and safe feed ingredients

Action across boarders ensuring healthy clean waters

Challenge: Consumers lack of knowledge

Knowledge

Teaching plans and information brochures

Solutions

Examples from countries

Consumer information from health and food authorities (Norway)