Distant water fishing and its effects on domestic food security

Governments around the world have identified distant water fleets (DWFs) as a key threat to ecosystem health, domestic economic opportunities, and food security. With a high prevalence of undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies in countries where DWFs operate, the aquatic foods caught by DWFs represent a vital opportunity to shift policy and improve nutrition outcomes. To better understand this issue, we conducted a literature review and expert interviews to develop a framework of relationships between DWFs and food security. We then applied the framework to three unique case studies to describe the mechanisms underlying DWF-food security interactions. Our findings highlight the potential for diverse policy pathways to improved food and nutrition outcomes. The research suggests that integrating food systems expertise and nutrition metrics into management and licensing negotiations could serve to illuminate the true tradeoffs of DWF access and steer policy to ensure an equitable flow of benefits to local communities.