The nutritional value of invertebrate aquatic foods.

Abstract

Most of the global population has inadequate micronutrient intake¹, leading to cascading adverse effects on economies and human health². Aquatic invertebrates are a diverse, productive and socioecologically important food^3,4, yet their contribution to human nutrition is frequently overlooked⁵. Here, combining aquaculture production, capture fisheries and nutrient composition data, we quantify the contribution of aquatic invertebrates to global nutrient supplies. Furthermore, as nutrient information for invertebrates is sparse, using species-specific trait data, we develop a predictive model to estimate the nutrient content of over 50,000 invertebrate species registered in SeaLifeBase, a global database focused on marine non-fish species. We show aquatic invertebrates are exceptionally nutrient dense, with current aquatic invertebrate production supplying the equivalent annual requirement for over 5 billion people in terms of vitamin B₁₂ and selenium; over 1 billion people for copper, omega 3 fatty acids, iodine and zinc; and over 100 million people for nutrients such as vitamins B₂ and B₃, iron, manganese and magnesium. Nutrient composition differs among taxonomic groups, consumption patterns (for example, body parts and processing form), and environmental and life-history factors such as the habitat or thermal regime the species lives in. Overall, provided that ecological sustainability is attained and socioeconomic and food-system barriers (such as food safety, access, affordability, cultural acceptance and bioavailability) do not prevent invertebrate consumption and nutrient uptake, our study highlights the potential benefits of integrating aquatic invertebrates into dietary portfolios across global societies, mainstreaming their nutritional importance in development projects, sustainability assessments and food policy.