Achieving national health targets through linked sustainable fisheries management: barriers and enablers

Seafood, or aquatic foods, can play an important role in addressing health challenges such as malnutrition, which remains a significant issue in residential aged care. This policy brief explores opportunities to connect fisheries management and public health nutrition policy to help achieve national health targets, focussing on malnutrition in Australian aged care. We examine a new fishery for the Pacific sardine ( Sardinops sagax) in the state of Tasmania, Australia, as a case study for improving public health and supporting food system sustainability through local institutional food procurement. Identified barriers include economic incentives for non-food uses, disinclination to broaden the scope of fisheries management, limited processing infrastructure and uncertainty around fishing rights. Opportunities include a supportive food system policy environment, aged care residents' preference for local seafood, and community support for human consumption over non-food uses.