Nutrient Composition of Marine Fish Species From the East African Coast: Implications for Food and Nutrition Security

Fish play a significant role in food and nutrition security along the coast of East Africa. However, there is a lack of comprehensive nutrient composition data. This study aimed to present the nutrient composition of the most commonly consumed marine fish species and assess their potential contribution to the Codex nutrient reference values (NRVs) for healthy adults. In total, 123 pooled samples (composites) of 24 commonly consumed marine fish species were collected using pelagic and demersal trawls by the R/V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen during ecosystem surveys along the East African coast in 2018 and 2023. Species were categorized, according to length, into small (< 25 cm) or large (> 25 cm) fish and prepared based on local consumption practices (whole, dressed, headed and gutted, and fillets). All samples were analyzed for macronutrients (protein, fat and fatty acids) and micronutrients (calcium, iron, iodine, zinc, vitamin A, folic acid and vitamin B12). The results show that whole small fish species contain higher levels of various micronutrients, such as calcium, iron, iodine, zinc, vitamin A, and the fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), compared to the fillets of large fish species. This study showed that several small fish species consumed whole contribute to ≥ 15% of the NRVs of healthy adults for several essential nutrients when a 100 g portion is consumed. The data presented in this study provide a valuable addition to the Tanzanian and Mozambican food composition tables, enhancing the understanding of fish as a significant source of micronutrients.