biostudies-literatureElsler LGNational Science Foundation (NSF)National Science Foundatione2506699123https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12912983biostudies-literatureUnknown123(7)Aquaculture, the single fastest growing food sector, is central to achieving key Sustainable Development Goals (e.g., SDG 2: Zero Hunger). Linking the nutrient composition of >2,800 aquatic species with >2 million fishmeal and farmed fish transactions in international aquatic food trade between 2015 and 2019, we examined aquaculture's nutritional flows and distributional equity. We found that aquaculture provided adequate intakes for nearly a quarter of a million individuals, on average, across 14 key nutrients, and for up to 2.7 billion individuals for several nutrients, such as Vitamin B₁₂. The vast majority of these nutrients (76.8%) were domestically retained, contributing to the nutritional security of producer countries. With most internationally traded nutrients originatiProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of AmericaGlobal nutritional equity of fishmeal and aquaculture trade flows.PMC1291298321212381826668Bejarano RAGephart JAElsler LGCashion TTroell MNaylor RLZamborain-Mason JGolden CDfalseGlobal nutritional equity of fishmeal and aquaculture trade flows.Aquaculture, the single fastest growing food sector, is central to achieving key Sustainable Development Goals (e.g., SDG 2: Zero Hunger). Linking the nutrient composition of >2,800 aquatic species with >2 million fishmeal and farmed fish transactions in international aquatic food trade between 2015 and 2019, we examined aquaculture's nutritional flows and distributional equity. We found that aquaculture provided adequate intakes for nearly a quarter of a million individuals, on average, across 14 key nutrients, and for up to 2.7 billion individuals for several nutrients, such as Vitamin B₁₂. The vast majority of these nutrients (76.8%) were domestically retained, contributing to the nutritional security of producer countries. With most internationally traded nutrients originati2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Feb2026-07-16T06:51:28.545Z2026-07-09T10:41:14.886ZS-EPMC129129834166252410.1073/pnas.2506699123