WorldFish
Malnutrition isn’t just about lack of food—it’s about lack of the right food. Hidden hunger affects millions, yet one of the simplest, most effective solutions remains overlooked: aquatic foods.
As a critical food resource, aquatic foods—small fish, seaweed, and shellfish—are packed with omega-3s, iron, zinc, and vitamin B12, helping to combat malnutrition, fuel brain development, and boost immunity. But policy gaps and affordability challenges limit access to these nutrient powerhouses.
Without aquatic foods, we ignore a vital component of nutritious diets and miss a key opportunity to fight global malnutrition.
WorldFish at the Nutrition for Growth Summit 2025
Out of 158 national fisheries policies, only 77 mention nutrition. And out of 165 public health nutrition policies, just 68 highlight fish, shellfish, and aquatic foods consumption. That means half of these policies overlook the power of aquatic foods in tackling malnutrition!
The result? Fisheries are left out of key nutrition investments and policies—a massive, missed opportunity for food and nutrition security, climate resilience, and better health. This was at the heart of our discussions during the Nutrition for Growth Summit 2025.
Key takeaways by Wanjiku Gichohi, Senior Scientist and Impact Area Lead for Nutrition and Public Health:
- A total of $27 billion was pledged towards ending malnutrition globally, up from $25 billion in 2020.
- The private sector actively engaged in the summit, reinforcing the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration to advance nutrition.
- Country delegations and development banks—including the African Development Bank Group and Asian Development Bank—are actively leading discussions on financing. This signals that low- and middle-income countries are increasingly taking ownership of their nutrition agendas. 💡
- Strong nutrition governance, at both national and sub-national levels, is critical to ensuring that funding leads to real impact. Beyond securing financing, countries must focus on transparent resource allocation, accountability mechanisms, and cross-sector coordination to translate commitments into sustainable improvements in nutrition outcomes.
- Nutrition research financing must not be left out. Evidence-based decision-making is essential to guide investments, measure progress, and scale effective interventions. Without dedicated funding for nutrition science, policy research, and program evaluation, we risk making uninformed choices that may not deliver the intended impact.
Stay tuned for the next Fish4Thought session to learn more.
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