According to the findings of The EU Fish Market – 2024 Report (European Commission: Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries)(1), fish consumption in the EU has been on a decline since 2021, even in traditionally high fish-consuming countries. On the other hand, some landlocked countries with historically low fish consumption have recorded a gradual increase.
Despite the recent declining trend, Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy still have the highest levels of fish consumption, while Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia – although not traditionally high fish-consuming countries – have shown an increasing trend over the past decade.
Several factors influence barriers to fish consumption such as:
(1) increasing prices that reduce affordability for consumers,
(2) environmental concerns regarding overfishing and sustainability which discourage consumer choices and
(3) disruptions of value chains especially those that rely on imported fish species.
Another trend regarding fish consumption is that consumers primarily rely on the same fish species, such as salmon, cod, and tuna, indicating a lack of diversification in the availability of fish types for consumption.
Food agencies emphasize the importance of increasing aquatic food consumption to enhance health and sustainability, particularly in preventing Western lifestyle-related diseases and ensuring the resilience of food systems. To meet this demand, apart from educational and promotional campaigns targeted at different groups – which are addressed by the IMPRESS project, global seafood production must expand, with an emphasis on increasing the inclusion of LTS fish in the diet, which should not pose a particular challenge as these species are already recognized for their nutritional value and play a significant role in Asian and Pacific diets (Elvevoll et al., 2023)(2).
LTS refers to a range of species, including non-fed or extractive species, those that feed on such species, and deposit or suspension feeders. Unlike popular fish species, which are primarily farmed, low-trophic fish species play a crucial role in marine ecosystems and are naturally abundant, reproducing quickly and requiring fewer resources to grow. Unlike larger predatory fish, such as tuna and cod, they do not accumulate high levels of toxins like mercury, making them a healthier option for regular consumption. However, this cannot be generalized, as the nutritional composition and food hazard levels vary by species, location, and post-harvest handling. Contaminant levels may result from geochemical processes, leaching soils, sewage, or industrial activities, all of which can ultimately end up in aquatic environments.
Given the variation in species, locations, and the novelty of some LTS on the market, more species-specific data on nutritional content and safe consumption limits are needed (Elvevoll et al., 2023)(3). One of the factors that could enhance LTS consumption is the development of innovative products incorporating LT fish species, designed to meet the preferences of consumers across different age groups, which is one of the focuses of the IMPRESS project. However, as shown by the research conducted within WP1 of IMPRESS project and the survey carried out in five European countries and Israel, consumers have a rather conservative approach to fish and seafood, with only occasional interest in new products. In terms of processed fish products, the most common ones according to The EU Fish Market – 2024 Report are shelf-stable products, such as canned and preserved fish, typically sold in cans, glass jars, or retort pouches. These products are often made from tuna, sardines, mackerel, herring, anchovies, prawns, crab, and mussels which are preserved in oil, brine, saltwater, or sauces.
The second important fish-based processed product group includes frozen battered/breaded fish, fish fingers, fish pies, fish balls, calamari, and scampi. Another group of fish-based products includes fresh and chilled products, which include chilled fillets, smoked fish, sushi and marinated fish. IMPRESS research revealed that consumer attitudes towards the increased consumption of low-trophic fish and seafood are influenced by a lack of familiarity with these species.
IMPRESS research revealed that only one in six respondents identified themselves as frequent and enthusiastic seekers of new fish products, indicating that product innovations may face significant barriers to market entry. When purchasing new and innovative products, psychological and economic motivators are far more significant to consumers than functional ones, with ethical and environmental factors, as well as brand image, being the least influential (Kulikowski, et al., 2004)(4). Therefore, IMPRESS project will tend to develop solutions that will broaden the use of LT fish in food production, but also influence consumer awareness and understanding to overcome barriers and ensure that attitudes align with actual consumption behaviour.
References:
1. The EU Fish Market – 2024 Report (European Commission: Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries)
2. Elvevoll, E. O., Eilertsen, K.-E., Aschan, M., & Bandarra, N. M. (2023). New marine low trophic
resources as food: nutritional and food safety aspects. Frontiers in Aquaculture, 2.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/aquaculture/articles/10.3389/faquc.2023.1254038
3. Ibid
4. Kulikowski, T., Mytlewski, A., Rakowski, M, Szulecka, O. 2024. D1.1: Consumer survey report.
IMPRESS project.
The article was written by Milica Pojić of FINS
All photographs in this article are sourced from Freepik.
