In light of recent research, blue food, sourced from aquatic environments, has emerged as a potential solution to nutritional deficiencies. It also offers significant revenue and employment opportunities in India. This article explores the concept of blue food, its significance, and challenges associated with it.
Understanding Blue Food
Commonly referred to as ‘blue food’, it encompasses all food derived from aquatic animals, plants, or algae. It is either captured or cultivated in freshwater and marine environments.
Significance of Blue Foods
Blue foods play a vital role in the economy, livelihoods, nutritional security, and culture of people worldwide. They provide protein nourishment to over 3.2 billion people, with coastal, rural, and indigenous communities often relying on these foods as their primary nutrient source. Furthermore, they support the livelihoods of more than 800 million people, mainly engaged in small-scale systems.
Dual Benefit: Environment and Nutrition
Blue foods are known for their low emissions compared to land-based meats, making them an environmentally friendlier choice. Their consumption can combat B12 and omega-3 deficiencies, prevalent in over 91% of countries with vitamin B12 deficiencies.
A Step Towards Healthy Living
Promoting blue foods as an alternative to the overconsumption of red meat could benefit approximately 82% of the 22 countries currently facing a high risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Economic Potential in Southern Hemispheres
Through improving nutrition, livelihoods, and national revenue, blue foods hold substantial promise for the global south and indigenous communities in the global north.
Facing Challenges with Blue Food
While holding promising potential, blue food comes with several challenges. These include bycatch, pollution, mislabeling and fraud, and overexploitation. In terms of bycatch, non-target species often get accidentally captured in fishing nets, leading to their death. Meanwhile, pollutants such as heavy metals, PCBs, and microplastics can degrade the quality and safety of seafood. Seafood mislabeling, where a cheap item is sold as a more expensive one, can deceive consumers and pose potential health risks. Overexploitation is also a significant concern, with almost 90% of global marine fish stocks now fully exploited or overfished.
Implementing Future-Proof Strategies
Governments, NGOs, and the private sector should heighten awareness on the benefits of blue food and the role it can play in tackling malnutrition, poverty, and environmental degradation. Promoting sustainable fishing practices and guard against overfishing, destructive methods, and bycatch is paramount to protect fish stocks and marine ecosystems. Encouraging aquaculture in an environmentally responsible manner can offer a sustainable way of producing blue food. Governments can further this development by providing technical assistance, training, and incentives.
The article presents insights taken from previous year’s UPSC Civil Services Examination questions. The questions involve explaining various agricultural revolutions post-Independence in India and defining blue revolution, their problems, and strategies developed for pisciculture growth.
