The nutritional value of invertebrate aquatic foods.

Aquatic invertebrates are highly nutrient-dense, supplying essential nutrients to over 5 billion people annually, yet their role in human nutrition is often overlooked.

• Why it matters: Addressing micronutrient deficiencies is critical for global health and economic stability, but the contribution of aquatic invertebrates remains underrecognized and underutilized in diets worldwide.
• What they did: The study combined aquaculture, fisheries data, and nutrient composition information, developing a predictive model for over 50,000 species to estimate their nutrient content and potential contributions.
• The result: Findings demonstrate that integrating aquatic invertebrates into diets could significantly improve micronutrient intake globally, provided ecological sustainability and social barriers are managed effectively.