# Presentation: 042691

## Seafood and Health ’05:Issues, Questions and Answers

**Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr. USN (Ret.)**
- Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere
- NOAA Administrator
- December 5, 2006

## Outline

- Welcome
- NOAA’s mission goals
- Seafood consumption trends
- Meeting the increasing demand
- Efforts at NOAA
- National Efforts
- International Efforts
- Summary

- Seafood and Health '05: Issues, Questions, and Answers

## NOAA’s Mission Goals

- Protect, restore, and manage the use of coastal and ocean resources through **ecosystem management**
- Understand **climate variability** and **change** to enhance society’s ability to plan and respond
- Serve society’s needs for **weather and water information**
- Support the Nation’s **commerce** with information for safe, efficient, and environmentally sound **transportation**

- Seafood and Health '05: Issues, Questions, and Answers

## U.S. PER CAPITA SEAFOOD CONSUMPTION

- (Processed product)

- Source: Fisheries of the United States

**1910**

**'20**

**'30**

**'40**

**'50**

**'60**

**'70**

**'80**

**'81**

**'82**

**'83**

**'84**

**'85**

**'86**

**'87**

**'88**

**'89**

**'90**

**'91**

**'92**

**'93**

**'94**

**'95**

**'96**

**'97**

**'98**

**'99**

**'00**

**'01**

**'02**

**'03**

**'04**

- .

**0**

**5**

**10**

**15**

**20**

**Pounds**

**RECORD: 16.6 lbs.**

**Seafood Consumption Trends**

- Seafood and Health '05: Issues, Questions, and Answers

## Meeting the Increasing Demand

- NOAA is a steward of the oceans
- Science based fisheries management to ensure healthy stocks
- Wild harvest fisheries and aquaculture important to meet global seafood demand
- Increased demand paired with conflicting information on risks and health benefits of seafood consumption

- Seafood and Health '05: Issues, Questions, and Answers

## Efforts at NOAA

- Funded and organized 1985 and 2005 conferences
- NAS Institute of Medicine study
- Identify adverse health effects of toxicants in seafood
- Examine availability of nutrients in seafood vs. other foods
- Determine impacts of modifying food choices
- Develop decision path for consumers
- Identify data gaps

- Seafood and Health '05: Issues, Questions, and Answers

## Omega-3 fatty acids for National Institutes of Health 
Seafood inspection program
Voluntary inspection services to industry for all edible products
Inspection allows ability to apply official marks
Services provided nationwide and in foreign countries
Inspections of whole fish, formulated products, including products used for animal food

- Seafood inspection program
- Voluntary inspection services to industry for all edible products
- Inspection allows ability to apply official marks
- Services provided nationwide and in foreign countries
- Inspections of whole fish, formulated products, including products used for animal food

**Efforts at NOAA**

- Seafood and Health '05: Issues, Questions, and Answers

## National Efforts

- Agencies monitor seafood supply for contamiants
- Advisories about safety and consumption
- Risk – benefit analysis
- Research

- Seafood and Health '05: Issues, Questions, and Answers

## International Efforts

- Global medical research on seafood and Omega-3s
- U.N. Organizations focusing on health and nutrition issues
- CODEX Alimentarius Commission
- World Health Organization
- Risk/Benefit for use in consumption recommendations
- Pollution controls to protect natural resources - ensures safety of seafood

- Seafood and Health '05: Issues, Questions, and Answers

## Summary

- Seafood consumption rising
- Wild harvest and aquaculture will meet global demand
- Risk management important
- Continued research, dialogue and accurate information important	for informed consumer decisions

- Seafood and Health '05: Issues, Questions, and Answers