THE recorded consumption of fish and fish products is the lowest in Pakistan and the highest in Sri Lanka in the South Asian region.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) food balance sheet (FBS), Pakistan’s consumption of fish stands at 1.9kg per capita per year, while Sri Lanka’s is at 15.3pc.

According to the FAO, fish and fish products have a very minor share in diets in Pakistan. The national consumption figure, based on the household consumption survey of 2011, was 0.6kg. The FAO survey report, released about a week ago, indicates that there has been little change over time in the country’s per-capita fish consumption.

It attributes the low figure to the tendency to export much of the fish production and the low purchasing power of a majority of the country’s citizens.

Despite the apparent importance of fish in the diet, it is often overlooked in discussions and official policies on nutrition and food security.

Fish and fish products account for 9.1pc of all animal products eaten. Poultry is the most common at 3.4kg per capita per year.

While per-capita fish consumption in countries such as Pakistan and India is relatively low, the large population size of these nations results in significant quantities of fish being consumed

The highest fish consumption figures were recorded in the two coastal provinces of Balochistan (2.4kg per capita per year) and Sindh (1.6kg). However, households in Punjab consumed just 0.2kg per capita per year and those in the mountainous KP just 0.05kg per capita per year.

Countries in the Asia-Pacific region have a range of environments, spanning landlocked mountainous areas, large tropical floodplains, arid grasslands and oceanic tropical islands. This affects the accessibility to fish in its different forms. Unsurprisingly, fish consumption figures vary considerably: from 110.7kg per capita per year in the Pacific island of Tuvalu to 0.18kg in Mongolia and parts of western China.

The FAO says based on data, it is clear that that per-capita fish consumption in the Asia-Pacific region is highest in the Pacific followed by Southeast Asia, South Asia and North Asia.

While per-capita fish consumption in countries such as Pakistan (0.9kg) and India (2.85kg) is relatively low, the large population size of these nations results in significant quantities of fish being consumed.

Major inland species consumed included tilapia, catfish, carp, perch and snakehead

There was no clear divide between rural and urban areas. In 13 countries where data was available, consumption in rural areas was higher than in urban areas, while in nine others urban consumption was higher. This may point to higher or easier availability of fish in certain rural areas as well as better purchasing power in some urban centres.

Only six surveys identified the type of fish species consumed and their origin. In Cambodia, Myanmar and Bangladesh, more inland water fish and aquatic animals were consumed than marine ones. Meanwhile in Thailand, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, more marine fish were eaten than inland fish.

Major inland species consumed included tilapia, catfish, carp, perch and snakehead. Marine species commonly eaten included tuna, anchovy, sardine, mackerel, scad, shad and milk fish.

The FAO says fishing activity is a relatively recent addition to agricultural censuses. In a similar manner, livestock surveys typically exclude fish culture as fish is not considered as livestock.

Many countries underestimate their total production figures because their statistical systems are unable to adequately record dispersed artisanal fisheries production in both marine and fresh waters.

In other cases, fisheries production is only recorded for industrial production or high-value or large-scale operations, again missing out the contribution of small-scale producers.

Small-scale catch/production of fish and fish products, which are consumed locally, are consequently unlikely to register in official fish production statistics but can be identified by household surveys, thus giving higher consumption estimates.

Household consumption surveys are undertaken on a regular basis in many countries throughout the Asia region. These may estimate the weights of foods consumed or be based on economic expenditures and incomes, from which consumption figures may be derived.

Published in Dawn, Business & Finance weekly, December 21st, 2015