International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences 2020; 9(4): 118-124 http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/ijnfs doi: 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20200904.14 ISSN: 2327-2694 (Print); ISSN: 2327-2716 (Online) Review Article Health Benefits of Fish Consumption and Its Contribution to Poverty Alleviation and Food Security in Ethiopia: A Review Tamiru Yazew 1, * , Diribe Kumsa 2 , Agama Daba 1 1 Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Wollega University, Shambu, Ethiopia 2 Department of Animal Science, Wollega University, Shambu, Ethiopia Email address: * Corresponding author To cite this article: Tamiru Yazew, Diribe Kumsa, Agama Daba. Health Benefits of Fish Consumption and Its Contribution to Poverty Alleviation and Food Security in Ethiopia: A Review. International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences. Vol. 9, No. 4, 2020, pp. 118-124. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20200904.14 Received: August 3, 2020; Accepted: August 14, 2020; Published: August 25, 2020 Abstract: Food insecurity and malnutrition remains a public health threat in developing countries including Ethiopia, as millions of people continue to suffer from these problems. Therefore, fish consumption is one of the most important sources of micro and macronutrients for human health and overcome food insecurity and malnutrition problems. Ethiopia is endowed with lakes, reservoirs and rivers, which could be the potential resources for fisheries production and consumption. However, their exploitation and contribution to food security and poverty alleviation in the country was scarce. Therefore, this review was designed to provide the current information concerning the health benefits of fish consumption and its contribution to poverty alleviation and food security issues in Ethiopia. Peer-reviewed articles, gray literature, key reports from national and international organizations, research findings in developed and developing countries were used to collect information for this work. Fish is a source of protein, polyunsaturated fatty acids, minerals and vitamins, which could prevent non-communicable diseases. However, access to road infrastructure, pond management level, water sources, fish feed status, location of ponds and consumption habits were factors affecting fish production and consumption. Other factors which could affect fish production were climate change and variability, low fish supply, lack of awareness, lack of support, lack of facilities, low profit, and distance from market place. Therefore, a strategic partnership and collaboration of all responsible bodies should determine the long term impacts of fisheries production and consumption patterns on the poverty alleviation, food and nutrition security in the country. Keywords: Fish Consumption, Nutrition, Poverty Reduction, Food Security, Ethiopia 1. Introduction Through the Sustainable Development Goals [45], the world has committed to ending all forms of food and nutrition insecurity. Yet, malnutrition and food insecurity remains one of the most visible dimensions of poverty in developing countries. One in every four people is estimated to be undernourished in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) [16]. More than two billion people worldwide, in particular in developing countries, are estimated to be deficient in vitamin A and minerals like iron and zinc [23]. The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in young children and iron deficiency in women in SSA are also the highest across the globe [19, 26]. Micronutrient deficiencies occurring at particular stages of human life (pregnancy, breast-feeding, childhood) can severely affect health and development, leading in some cases to irreversible effects. Therefore, fish can potentially contribute to reducing these micronutrient deficiencies. However, fish is under recognized and undervalued source of micronutrients, which could play a more significant role in addressing these global challenges [35]. Providing adequate food for a rapidly increasing human population is one of the greatest challenges this day in the world. To be more specific, seafood bases play an important role in filling the nutritional requirements of human beings [17]. Fish and seafood products represent a very healthy food,