FRDC communication of evidence-based information on the healthfulness and sustainability of seafood to Health Professionals

Funded Activity Summary

The present application will build extensively on the previous nutrition research of Somerset and Bowerman by engaging health professionals in evidence-based and practical communication material which they can use to assist consumers in integrating seafood towards more healthy and sustainable dietary choices.

Dr Gabrielle O’Kane, a board member of the Dietitians Association of Australia, has also been conducting multi-disciplinary research focusing on the barriers and drivers of fish consumption in Australia. On the 18 May 2017, Dr O’Kane gave an oral presentation ‘Aligning sustainability and nutrition goals in Australian seafood consumption’ at the 34th National DAA conference in Hobart, reporting on the findings of the advice related to seafood consumption provided by APDs and PHNs to their clients. The findings showed that APDs and PHNs are uncertain as to where to find reliable evidence-based information on sustainable seafood stocks. The conference had over 600 delegates and there was keen interest in the Nutrition in Public Health, Community and the Environment stream of concurrent sessions, of which this presentation was a part. See the link http://daa2017.com.au/cms/wp-content/uploads/DAA-2017-Final-Program-as-of-24-April-2017.pdf. Dr Carolyn Stewardson was able to assist Dr O’Kane with sourcing clear, summarised information on the status of Australian wild fish stocks in advance of the conference, which was well-received by delegates. One of the key take home message of Dr O’Kane's presentation was to check the sites www.fish.gov.au and www.fishfiles.com.au.

There is a clear gap in the provision of evidence-based information on (i) performance of fisheries management/status of Australia’s fish stocks and (ii) the health benefits and recommendations around eating fish, to this sector. Dietary recommendations for fish intake presents a conflict between desired outcomes for environmental sustainability and health.




Objectives:
1. Gather evidence-based information about the nutritional benefits and recommendations of seafood, and the performance of fisheries management/status of Australian fish stocks(Original objective: Translate FRDC's nutritional data and fish stock status information into simple, credible educational resources for health professionals and consumers according to their expressed needs and wants)
2. Translate this into a credible educational resource for health professionals according to their expressed needs and wants(Original objective: Effectively disseminate these resources through DAA, PHAA and Practice Nurses Association to health professionals in Australia for distribution into the wider community)
3. Effectively disseminate this resource to nutrition professionals and practice nurses in Australia for distribution into the wider community

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 09-07-2018

End Date: 21-12-2018

Funding Scheme: Funding Scheme not available

Funding Amount: $69,043.99

Funder: Fisheries Research and Development Corporation

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

There are no FoR codes available for this funding activity

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Animal Health | Animal Welfare | Aquaculture | Consumer Health | Consumer | Education | Environmental Impact | Fisheries Management | Food technology | Health And Safety | Health Benefits | Nutrition | Physiology | Stock Assessment | Sustainability

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