A RESEARCH ON FISH CONSUMPTION IN WEST MEDITERRANEAN REGION OF TURKEY

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1 A RESEARCH ON FISH CONSUMPTION IN WEST MEDITERRANEAN REGION OF TURKEY C.SAYIN (1), Y.EMRE (2), B.OZKAN (1), Y.TASCIOGLU (1), M.GONCU (2), N.MENCET (1) (1) Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Akdeniz, 07070, Antalya/TURKEY (2) Mediterranean Fisheries Research Production and Education Institute, Antalya/TURKEY ABSTRACT The aim of this research is to determine fishery consumption pattern of consumers located three provinces namely Antalya, Burdur and Isparta located in West Mediterranean Region of Turkey. Data were collected from 300 consumers by using face to face survey technique in In the study, main socio-economics factors affecting fish purchasing behavior of households in 3 provinces were also analyzed. Consumer preferences and behaviors for fish consumption were examined at the consumer point of view. The research results indicate that about %65 of consumers were in age groups and 75% of respondent are men. The average household size in the sample is found to 3.21 persons. The majority of respondents were graduated from high school and university. The average income of households was YTL 815. The share of food expenses in total expenses was %30.8 (YTL 1 251). White meat consumption takes 72.6% share while the share of red meat takes 27.4% in total meat consumption. Average fish consumption was found 2.86 kg and the share of fish consumption and meat consumption in the white meat consumption were %43.4 respectively. The per capita meat expense for per month is YTL Fish is consumed mainly (93.4%) as a fresh form in the research area. 1. INTRODUCTION Fish and fishery products are one of the most significant sources to meet sufficient animal based protein. There is a noticeable gap between developed and developing countries in terms of fishery consumption. While annual per-capita consumption is about 23.3 kg in developed countries, it is 14 kg in developing countries. Turkey, with 8333 km coastline and rich inland waters, has a great potential for fish and aquaculture production. Even though this great potential, annual per capita consumption of fishery products in Turkey is very low (7.6 kg), compared to developed countries and world (16 kg). Over the last a couple of decades, fishery products consumption has an increasing trend in Turkey and many developing countries due to population growth, disposable income racing, urbanization and health concerns. To increase fish consumption in a country depends on many factors such as increasing population along with sufficient supply for fish and fish product supply to meet demand, income and education level, consumer preferences and fish prices. Each one of the factors impact degree may change according to regions. Certainly, different potentials of the regions are the main affect on consumption changing pattern. The research area has an important potential on account of sea and interior water sources. Also, because of the extensiveness of sea, plateau, winter sports and various sport facilities, there is a significant population increase in this region. The aim of this study is to determine the fish consumption pattern and the factors affect on fish consumption in West Mediterranean Region in Turkey. 1 YTL: New Turkish Lira (NTL) - 1 Euro was about 1.95 NTL on 27 May 2006

2 2. MATERIAL AND METHOD The main material of the research constitutes original data obtained from households living in the centre of Antalya, Burdur and Isparta provinces in West Mediterranean Region in Turkey. Sample size of the research was determined for 300 household and this number was divided equally for each provinces. Then the number of sample in each province was distributed in districts in deference to low, middle and high income group. Distribution has done according to the proportion of district population in city centre population. Householders for questionnaire were chosen among determined districts randomly and surveyed by using face to face survey. The aim of this study is to determine the fish consumption tendency and the factors which affect them in West Mediterranean Region in Turkey. Therefore, in the context of this study, obtained data from three provinces were evaluated aggregately but comparison among the provinces didn t take place in this study. 3. RESEARCH RESULTS 3.1. Major Social and Economic Characteristics of Households Main findings about consumers social and economic characteristics in the context of this research are the following: Age distribution: According to this research, 65% of consumers are in middle age group (31-50), 21% of them are in age groups, 11.5% of them are above more than 51 years old and 2.5% of them are taken place below 20 years of age. Gender distribution: The distribution of respondents are 73% men and 27% women Education level: While 57% of individuals have primary and secondary level of education, 43% of them are graduated from university. Occupations: Participants are employed generally in public (40%) sector. Some of the groups are engaged in trade (23.7%) and agricultural activities (5%). The rest of them (31.3%) are working as workers or other occupations. Households: Households mostly stay (67%) in high apartments which are so close to centre of the city, 18% of them stay 2-3 floors apartments in peripheral area of the city and 15% of them are living in small shanties of suburban of the city. Family size: Average family size of household is 3.21 persons. The majority of households consist of 3-4 persons. Monthly income: More than 68.3% of households have YTL 400 and more in this study. Household average income was calculated as YTL Fish Consumption Pattern and Affecting Factors Food expenditures: Household food expenditures have an increasing trend while their income is increasing. Namely, food expenditures increase at the same time when income increase. Results of research indicate that 30% of households expend YTL , 25.3% of them expend YTL per month for food. On the other hand, 19% of households spend less than YTL 101 per month. In addition to this, the share of household spent more than YTL 301 per month is 25.67%. Average food expenditure of household is YTL 251. It means that 30.8% of average household income (YTL 815) per month is devoted for food. Consumption frequency: Families generally consume read meat in 1-2 times in a week but white meat consumption 4 times in a week.

3 Two and less times red meat consumption proportion is 71.9%, white meat consumption proportion is 54.5% and fish meat consumption 57% in a month. On the other hand, 4 times or less white meat consumption proportion is 90.3% and fish meat is 94.4%. Consumption quantity: Average household red meat, white meat and fish consumption are monthly 2.55 kg, 3.31 kg, and fish is 2.86 kg in the research area respectively. According to research findings, household (average family size 3.21 persons) consumption is 8.72 kg and meat consumption per person is 2.71 kg and fish consumption per person is 0.89 kg monthly. Total meat consumption of household is composed of 70.8% white meat (including fish) and 29.2% red meat. The share of fish consumption is 46.4% in the total white meat and 32% in the meat production. Monthly meat expenditures: Average expenditures of households are found YTL This value is 16.2% of household average food expenditures (YTL 251) and 5% of average income (YTL 815). Fish consumption a) Households consume fish as fresh, processed or canned. However, fresh consumption takes the biggest share with 93.4% (Fig.1). 2.0% 4.6% 93.4% Fresh Processed Canned Figure 1. Fishery consumption preferences b) Households meet their fish demand from different sale points. These are fish wholesale market, hawkers, supermarkets or other retail centers. Beside this, some consumers also meet demand with fishing or hunting. According to results, majority of household (61%) prefer to buy fish from fish wholesale market (Fig.2). 10.3% 7.0% 4.7% 3.7% 13.3% 61.0% Wholesale Market Retailer Supermarket Other Peddlers Hunting Figure 2. Consumer preferences for sales points

4 c) There are many factors affect household fish consumption but the price is the main factor. According to research findings, 66% of households consider that the main reason for low consumption is high fish prices. d) Anchovy is the most consumed fish spices in Turkey. About 54.7% household prefers pilchard, anchovy and bogue. The second preferred fish group is trout, carp and Wels and European cat fish (24%). It is clear that fish prices has important role on fish consumption (Fig.3). 11.3% 10.0% 24.0% 54.7% European Pilchard-Anchovy-Bogue Rainbow Trout-Crap-W els & Eurpean Catfish Gilthead Seabream -European Seabass-Common Seabream Other Figure 3. Consumption Composition for fish varieties e) More than half of respondents (56%) prefer natural grown fish than aquaculture. About 30% respondents prefer both methods of grown fish, 8.7% of them prefer only aquaculture and 5.3% of them have not any choices. f) Households generally prefer fish among other fishery products. Other fishery products consumption demand is lower than fish demand. g) There are many factors affecting fish purchasing behaviors such as fish price, choices and tastes and, freshness. 6.7% 4.7% 3.7% 85.7% Freshness Price Other Choices and tastes Figure 4. Affecting factors on purchasing behaviors for fish Freshness is the most important factor for consumers (85.7%) (Fig. 4). h) Most of the respondents (79%) don t meet any difficulties either for procurement of fish or other fishery products.

5 4. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS Household in the study are generally graduated from university and are middle age group (31-50 age) and average family size is 3.21 persons and their monthly income is around YTL 815. Monthly food expenditures of households is 30.8 % of total monthly income, meat expenditures is 16.2% of total food expenditures and monthly fish consumption is (2.86 kg per household) 1/3 of total meat consumption. Households consume fish more frequently than red meat and mainly purchase fish from wholesale market. Consumers give high importance to price, freshness and grown conditions. It is concluded that, it is necessary to increase household income in order to increase fish consumption level. Because, the respondents of this research don t have any problem with low education and procurement of fresh fish, and on the contrary also they have tendency consuming fish if they have procure fresh and fair price for fish. REFERENCES Anonymous, The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture FAO Fisheries Department, FAO, Italy. Atay, D., Ölmez, M. and Korkmaz, A.ª Fishery Products Production. Chamber of Agricultural Engineers, Agricultural Engineer 5 th Technical Congress in Turkey, January. Ankara (in Atay, D. and Bekcan, S Fishery products potential and its problems in Turkey. I. Albayrak and U. Merter (eds); Biological Richness and Problems in Turkey at the begining of the 21 th Century. Associations of Protecting Natural Sources in Turkey and TUBITAK, 15-21, Ankara (in Atay, D. and Korkmaz, A.ª Fishery Products Production: The Latest Trends in Turkey and the World. Journal of Fishery Products Collaboration, Education, Reseacrh and Development Foundation, 1:3-15, (in Civi, H., Gurler, Z., Esengun K. and Karkacier, O., Households Survey on White Meat Consumption In the Center of Tokat Province Gaziosmanpaºa University Journal of Agriculture Faculty, Volume:1, No:1, s , Tokat. (in DPT, Fishery Products and Fishery Products Industry. Eighth Five Annual Development Plan, Expert Repory, Number: Elbek, A.G., Isgoren Emiroglu, D. and Saygi H., A Survey on Fish Consumption Mediterreanean Fishery Congress, Ege University Fishery Products Faculty, 9-11 April, s , Izmir (in Hatirlý, A.S., Demircan, V. and Aktas, A.R Analysis of Household Consumption in Isparta Suleyman Demirel University Economics and Administrative Sciences Faculty Vol.9. No:1 s Isparta (in Koc, A., Aktas, E. and Akdemir, S Household Meat Consumption and Consumption Behaviour in the Center of Adana Provinces Journal of Cukurova University Agricultural Faculty, Adana (in Leek,S., Maddock, S., 2000, Situational determinants of fish consumption, British Food Journal 26, Vol, 102, Issue 1, 18-39,UK. Ozturk, A., Boztepe, S. ve Kara, M.K., 1991 A Research on Fish Consumption in Konya Province Journal of Selcuk University Agricultural Faculty, Vol:1, Number:1, P , Konya (in Sanli, S. and Saygi, H An Econometric Model on Fish Consumption Journal of Ege University Fishery Products, Vol:18, Number:3-4, p , Izmir.