• Although Bangladesh's import and export volumes are almost equal (64,091 MT vs 72,166 MT), export income were almost 11 times seafood import expenses. • Imported seafood contained 1.5 times more Ca, 8 times more Fe, 5 times more Zn, and 7 times more Se. • Imported seafood shows 90% cheaper protein prices. • Imported seafood provides 6–15 times cheaper micro-nutrients for the vulnerable population. • Seven times higher Se in imported seafood supports heart, bone, and joint health in Bangladesh. Global seafood trade has expanded rapidly over recent decades, driven by increasing demand, globalization of food systems, and advances in processing and transport technologies. However, its implications for food and nutritional security in low- and middle-income countries remain contested. This study developed a nutrient balance sheet for export–import seafood in Bangladesh to examine trade patterns, nutrient composition, relative nutrient costs, heavy-metal safety, and contribution to food and nutritional security of vulnerable populations in Bangladesh. Nine imported seafood species were analyzed at accredited laboratories in the UK for nutrient composition and in Bangladesh for seafood safety. Nutrient data for major exported fish species were obtained from secondary literature and import–export statistics from the Department of Fisheries, Bangladesh. The results indicated that Bangladesh maintained a substantial seafood trade surplus, with export earnings around 11 times higher than import expenditure. Myanmar accounted for the largest share of imports (47.40%), while the USA was the primary export destination (43%). Exported and imported seafood had broadly similar protein and lipid contents; however, the estimated cost per unit of these nutrients was 7-10 times lower for imported seafood. Imported seafood generally provided higher levels of selected micronutrients than exported species, and the cost per unit of key nutrients (e.g., n-3 LC-PUFA (EPA+DHA), Ca, Zn, Fe, and Se) was lower for imports. Heavy metal risk indices indicated that sampled imported and exported seafood were within acceptable limits for human consumption. The results indicate that seafood trade in Bangladesh is associated with export revenue generation alongside the domestic availability of affordable, nutrient-rich seafood. This study highlights the importance of incorporating nutrition, food safety, availability of affordable, nutrient-rich fish during lean periods, and stewardship role of seafood into seafood trade assessment.
Mamun et al. (Wed,) studied this question.