Marine Foods and Nutrition Security

Drs. Simon Brandl and Natalie Poulos received funding through the Texas Gulf Coast Impact 2030 Grants to trace linkages between estuarine habitats, the nutritional value of fish species that utilize these habitats, and the capacity of these fishes to support people’s food security and micronutrient needs on the Texas Gulf Coast.

The specific goals of the project are to:

1. Quantify the food sources and micronutrient composition of important fisheries species in coastal Texas to establish species-specific differences in micronutrient profiles and trace how their use of different habitats and food sources may affect their productivity and micronutrient yields. We will do so using compound-specific isotope analyses of amino acids (CSIA-AA) and micronutrient analyses, leveraging Texas Parks & Wildlife’s (TPWD) biannual gillnet sampling to obtain samples.
2. Examine the use of fish species by under-resourced households in coastal Texas to gauge the contributions of nutrients derived from marine foods in relation to overall dietary intake. We will do so using a mixed methods approach that combines nutrient analysis and qualitative interviews. To ensure that we are reaching the target population, we will collaborate with local food banks and community organizations on project strategies and community outreach.