INVESTIGATION INTO THE USE OF SOUTH AFRICAN CAPE ANCHOVY AND WEST COAST ROUND HERRING FOR DIRECT HUMAN CONSUMPTION FOR INCREASED FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY

Context South Africa and other Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries face persistent challenges of food and nutrition insecurity, especially in their low-income populations, with about 20% to 40% of the population in the region experiencing severe food insecurity. Yet, South Africa has abundant and underutilised pelagic fish resources, in particular Cape anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) and red-eye round herring (Etrumeus whiteheadi), also known as West Coast round herring. In addition, these two species are currently primarily used for fishmeal and fish oil production rather than for direct human consumption. The argument being advanced in this report is that increasing the direct human utilisation of underutilised fish resources such as anchovy and West Coast round herring could positively contribute towards nutrition and protein food security in South Africa and in the SADC region as a whole. Observably, the utilisation of processed small fish is the largest part of the edible fish product supply in most African countries. The growing number of migrants from other African countries settling in South Africa as refugees and in search of employment and opportunities has resulted in a growing market for African imported food from migrants’ countries of origin. With regard to fish, these come mainly in the form of sun-dried, smoke-dried or salted-dried products – a market for processed small fish in South Africa. One group of potential consumers to target in South Africa could therefore be foreign nationals who are already used to eating such fish. Other countries in the SADC region also potentially provide a huge market for new anchovy and red-eye round herring products. This research was part of a strategic push towards the increased utilisation of anchovy and red-eye round herring for direct human consumption through development of products aimed at the lower-income end of the market to improve food security and nutrition in this target population. The intention was to test new products in the local population and raise awareness about these products. Other possible target markets are institutional consumers such as school feeding schemes, correctional services institutions and hospitals.