Widespread practices and sustainability benefits of foraging in urban blue spaces of India

Abstract Urban blue spaces, such as lakes and rivers, are increasingly recognized for their ecological and social roles, yet their contributions to sustainable food systems remain understudied. Here we examine the extent and benefits of foraging in urban blue spaces across four major Indian cities through a survey of 1,200 users. We identify three forager groups, that is, ‘rare’, ‘occasional’ and ‘frequent’ foragers, whose behaviors differ in frequency and practice. Women, the elderly and marginalized communities most frequently collect, share, cook and sell edibles. Access to home or community gardens strongly motivates occasional foragers. Frequent foragers emphasize benefits relating to nutrition and income, as well as culture and social capital, whereas occasional foragers appreciate nature- and culture-related benefits. Our findings challenge conventional perspectives on urban food provisioning, highlighting urban blue spaces as vital yet overlooked spaces for food access and resilience. Integrating foraging into urban planning can enhance equitable food systems, fostering transformative change toward sustainable urban landscapes.