Forage Fish as Food: Consumer Perceptions on Baltic Herring

Abstract

Using fish resources for food supply in a sustainable and efficient way requires an examination of the feasibility of prioritising the use of forage species. The present paper deals with the issue from the consumer perspective. Using Baltic herring as a case study, the role of sociodemographic determinants, the drivers and barriers of Baltic herring consumption are investigated in four Baltic Sea countries, based on an internet survey. The drivers and barriers of Baltic herring consumption are compared to those relating to Baltic salmon, to identify the main differences in consumer perceptions on species that are primarily used as feed and food. The present paper concludes that prioritising forage species primarily for human consumption calls for proactive catch use governance, which (1) acknowledges the species-and country-specific intricacies of forage fish consumption, (2) improves the availability of safe-to-eat fish on the market, and (3) provides consumers with sufficient information on the species (e.g., the type of herring and its origin), the sustainability of the fisheries, and the related health risks and benefits.

Health effects of nutrients and environmental pollutants in Baltic herring and salmon: a quantitative benefit-risk assessment

“…In addition, the consumption of Baltic herring has been decreasing during the last decades and is now less than a kilogram per year, varying between age groups (older people tend to eat more), genders (males tend to eat more) and countries (Estonians tend to eat more and Danes less than the three other countries studied). People reported that better availability of easy-to-prepare products, interesting recipes, and reduced pollutant levels would increase their consumption of Baltic herring [11]. In contrast, recommendations to reduce consumption on average would have little effect.…”

“…The survey was designed and conducted for the purposes of this study and another study investigating consumers' perception and consumption of fish. The latter study [11] was published first, and it contains a more detailed description of the study methods, including the questionnaire.…”

Health effects of nutrients and environmental pollutants in Baltic herring and salmon: a quantitative benefit-risk assessment

“…Also Baltic herring consumption has been decreasing during the last decades and is now less than a kilogram per year, varying between age groups (old people eat more), genders (males eat more) and countries (Estonians eat more and Danes less than other countries studied). People reported that better availability of easy products, recipes, and reduced pollutant levels would increase their Baltic herring consumption [11] . In contrast, recommendations to reduce consumption would have little effect on average.…”

“…Third, Baltic herring has also other important values than health: economic (Baltic herring is the most abundant catch species by weight in the Baltic Sea), ecological (sustainable yield of Baltic herring is large and the catch removes nutrients from the sea), climate (Baltic herring could replace red meat and other climate-unfriendly food sources), social (Baltic herring is inexpensive local food), and cultural (Baltic herring and salmon are an important part of coastal culture) [60] [61] . Moreover, Baltic herring has value for food security [62][5] [11] . Should these values be considered when dioxin policy is designed?…”

“…Concerning Baltic salmon, the respondents were asked to choose from a list of salmonids, which ones they consume. In addition to the analysis presented in this paper, the survey was conducted for the purpose of a consumer perception and consumption study [11] and therefore only part of the survey results are presented in this paper.…”