Exploring the impact of income, aquaculture production, protein supply, and food production on life expectancy

Life expectancy is a key indicator of health and well-being, particularly in countries where fishery exports play a major economic role. However, limited studies have explored how aquaculture production, protein supply, and income levels interact to shape health outcomes. This study examines the impact of aquaculture production, protein consumption, income, and food production on life expectancy in the top 12 fish-exporting nations. Data from the World Bank and the OECD Stat were utilized in this cross-sectional study. The Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) method was employed as the baseline estimation technique to examine the long-run relationships. The Pooled Mean Group Autoregressive Distributed Lag (PMG-ARDL) model and the Mean Group (MG) estimator were also applied to check robustness. Aquaculture, income, and food production were all found to improve life expectancy significantly. However, the availability of protein has a significant detrimental effect on longevity. Based on this study’s findings, several directions could be taken with public health policy. First, the results indicate that life expectancy could be increased by implementing policies that boost aquaculture output, real income, and food production. Aquaculture production subsidies, tax incentives for food production, and investments in infrastructure might all be part of such plans. As a second takeaway, the results question the wisdom of initiatives that increase people’s protein intake. Measures along these lines include bans on fast food, charges on sugary beverages, and dietary awareness campaigns. Finally, this research shows the significance of investigating the links between aquaculture, protein intake, GDP, food production, and health.