A randomised controlled trial to test the effects of fish aggregating devices (FADs) and SBC activities promoting fish consumption in Timor-Leste: A study protocol

Abstract

Timor-Leste is one of the world’s most malnourished nations where micronutrient-deficient diets are a contributing factor to the prevalence of child stunting, currently estimated to be 45.6% of children under five. Fish are an important source of nutrients and one that may assist the country’s predominantly rural population of agriculturalists to exit poverty and malnutrition. However, a small national fishing fleet producing low catch volumes places fish out of reach of most inland and upland populations where it is needed most. Fish consumption is very low in rural, inland areas compared to coastal, regional, and global averages. This study is a one-year, partially masked, cluster-randomized controlled trial among families living in rural, inland Timor-Leste. We aim to test and compare the effects of two treatments, alone and in combination, on the frequency and volume of household fish consumption in rural, inland areas as a proxy for improved dietary diversity and micronutrient intake. Treatment 1 is the installation of nearshore, moored fish aggregating devices (FADs) to improve catch rates with existing fishing gears. Treatment 2 is a social and behaviour change (SBC) activity to promote fish consumption. Villages in inland communities will be randomized to receive treatment 1, treatment 2, both treatments, or neither treatment. Data will be collected at baseline (prior to the rollout of the treatments) and endline. Our study will determine the impact of an improved supply of fish, along with nutrition-oriented SBC activities, on the fish purchasing and consumption practices of rural, inland households. Findings from this study are urgently needed by Small Island Developing States to guide policy and investment decisions on how best to improve households’ diets using locally available, nutrient-dense foods such as fish. Investments such as these are needed to break the cycle of malnutrition. This trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04729829). Trial registration: Trial registered at clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT04729829.

Peskas: Automated analytics for small-scale, data-deficient fisheries

“…However, in Timor-Leste, where rates of child stunting malnutrition are the highest in the world [37], sh consumption in upland, inland areas are typically very low and approximately a quarter of consumption rates in coastal areas [38]. A randomised controlled trial has leveraged Peskas ongoing monitoring of catch rates and shing revenue as part of a clinical trial in Timor-Leste to test the effects of increasing supply (FADs) and demand (behaviour change messaging) on the consumption of sh products in inland and upland communities [39]. A nascent research direction related to this, is the integration of nutrition-sensitive sheries management approaches into Peskas, where the catches from different shing patterns (gear, location, habitat) exhibit common nutrient concentration pro les, which can be utilised for management strategies that do not solely maximise production, but also address nutritional needs in the population [40].…”

Combined supply and demand interventions increased the frequency of fish purchases in rural households: results from a randomized, controlled trial in Timor-Leste

“…A demand side intervention such as a Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) program that addresses common fears, such as infants choking with sh bones, and provides advice on preparing sh for children, may have an impact on consumption. This paper reports the ndings from a randomized control trial (RCT), the protocol of which was described in Tilley et al (2022). The aim of this study was to investigate the independent and combined effects of nearshore FADs on sheries catch rates and a social and behaviour change (SBC) program on household sh purchases and sh consumption in rural, inland Timor-Leste to assess whether nearshore FADs can improve the diets of people living far from sheries.…”