Fish Consumers: Environmental Attitudes and Purchasing Behavior

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to expand on the limited awareness of the U.S. fish consumer. Measures were tested through a Web-based national survey. The final survey consisted of 40 questions, including environmental awareness, food neophobia, fish consumption, reasons for consuming fish, and demographic variables. Correlations and t tests were used to analyze relationships between eating fish in restaurants and other variables. Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to segment respondents into two groups based on their environmental awareness and neophylic/neophobic attitudes. EcoFish consumers were more likely to be male, eat fish for health and the environment, and eat fish at restaurants significantly more than the Indifferent Fish consumers. Restaurants can use these results to market to eco-friendly, health-conscious fish consumers.

KEYWORDS:

• fish consumer
• neophobia
• environmental attitudes

Funding

The authors acknowledge the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) for their support of this project. IDNR had no role in the design, analysis or reporting of publication.

Additional information

Funding

The authors acknowledge the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) for their support of this project. IDNR had no role in the design, analysis or reporting of publication.