Price transmission in seafood value chain. Case study in Spain shows retailers favor farmed products.

An FAO research project that studied value chains for wild and farmed seafood analyzed the impacts of varied market conditions on the transmission of prices from farms to consumers. Changes in retail prices were less pronounced than in producer or wholesaler prices, as retailers tended to flatten price variations. Value added by wholesalers was higher for wild species with limited imports. Retail farmed fish prices were more closely linked with the evolution of pricing across the value chain

Why don’t we eat more seafood?

A variety of factors combine to limit seafood consumption. Seafood is perceived to be expensive, and safety perceptions influence consumer buying decisions. Culture and tradition also play roles in forging seafood-eating habits. Smaller portions can reduce seafood prices, and information on the sources of seafood and safety assurances can help reduce risk perceptions. Industry best practices combined with consistent promotion of the health benefits of seafood can help improve consumer confidence and lead to increased seafood sales

Public opinions pose barriers for tuna consumption.

Safety and sustainability are key concepts affecting consumers’ decisions on tuna consumption. Although the benefits of consumption exceed the potential negative effects, tuna’s harmful attributes tend to egatively impact purchasing in at-risk groups. For regular individuals, tuna consumption is more influenced by tradition, education or other factors. Overfishing of tuna stocks remains an issue for some consumers. Further development of tuna aquaculture can decrease the presence of methylmercury in farmed tuna and also reduce pressures on wild stocks

Analyse de la consommation de bar et de daurade dans les pays méditerranéens de l' Union.

ABSTRACT. The overall objective of this study is to analyse the situation of the seabream and seabass market, in order to provide relevant information for designing sustainable development strategies. It is divided into two parts: the first is an aggregated study about the factors affecting consumption in the Mediterranean countries of the European Union, which concentrated 79.5% of the consumption of these species in 2005. The second part is more specific and studies the influence that awareness and attitude towards aquaculture has on consumption patterns and valuation of the species, factors that are to be taken into account when designing specific strategies for each market. This latter part is confined to the Spanish market, and therefore results cannot be extrapolated to others, but they may serve as reference given that Spain accounts for 18.6% of total seabream and seabass consumption in the European Union.RÉSUMÉ. L' objectif global de cette étude est d' analyser la situation du marché du bar et de la daurade, afin de fournir une information utile pour la mise au point de stratégies de développement durable. Elle est divisée en deux parties : la première est constituée par une étude agrégée sur les facteurs qui influencent la consommation dans les pays méditerranéens de l Union Européenne, qui ont concentré 79,5% de la consommation de ces espèces en 2005. La seconde partie est plus spécifique et examine l' influence que la sensibilisation et l' attitude vis-à-vis de l 'aquaculture présentent sur les tendances de connsommation et d 'appréciation de ces espèces, facteurs qui entrent en ligne de compte pour la conception de stratégies spécifiques à chaque marché. Cette dernière partie se limite au marché espagnol, et par conséquent les résultats ne peuvent pas être extrapolés à d 'autres marchés, mais ils peuvent toutefois servir de référence étant donné que l' Espagne représente 18,6% de la consommation totale de bar et de daurade au sein de l' Union Européenne

Study: pangasius effect frozen fish fillet imports in European Union.

The entry of Pangasius into the E.U. market changed the equilibrium for imported frozen fish fillets. Pangasius is displacing traditional species like cod and hake. In a study, the largest levels of cointegration among species and exporting countries were found in a group including the five top non-European exporters of fish fillets to the E.U. Exports from the U.S. and Russia showed the highest level of significance in the interaction of their prices with those from Vietnam

Survey suggests successful claims for seabream marketing.

In a market survey that presented claims for safety, health benefits and sustainability in different combinations for wild and farmed seabream, the main conclusions pointed to a strong preference for wild domestic seabream, although price gave farmed fish an edge. The price differential could be offset by greater emphasis on local production, sustainability or health benefits. A local marketing strategy may yield greater returns tan one focused overseas

Seafood demand and aquaculture growth. Relationships vary in developed, emerging markets.

An analysis of the relationships between aquaculture development and its consequences on seafood consumption found both similarities and differences across countries and species. Developing and emerging producing countries coincided across seafood consumption and the share of local aquaculture in total supply. The relationship between consumption and local supply was weak in developed importing countries. Developed markets were important as drivers for aquaculture expansion in developing countries. Consumption in northern countries somewhat drove development of the production of certain species in the southern world

Consumer attitudes toward aquaculture: spanish study correlates knowledge, opinions.

Consumer beliefs about the safety and sustainability of aquaculture are statistically related concepts that allow their reduction into a single attitude index. As consumers further identify safety and sustainability in the aquaculture, their opinions about farmed seafood tend to become more favorable. The industry can benefit by assuring that both conditions are satisfied in their operations and communicating them in an understandable language for all segments

Dining out and appraisal of farmed fish.

Consumers’ lack of familiarity with aquaculture products and farm practices can cause aversion to farmed seafood. Surveys in Spain found that consumers who ate seafood at restaurants knew more about farmed species and ate more cultured seafood than those who only ate seafood at home. Inclusion of aquaculture products on restaurant menus helps increase the knowledge and consumption of farmed seafood by customers. Thus, the hospitality business is a useful channel to spread positive messages about aquaculture