New research done on behalf of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) showed that according to seafood buying behavior around the world, more consumers are looking for seafood products from a sustainable source.
The survey, said to be the largest international one done based on sustainable seafood consumption, looked to more than 9,000 seafood buyers from 15 countries spanning Europe, Asia, North America and Australasia.
“Around the world, the demand for sustainably sourced seafood is increasing,” said Nicolas Guichoux, global commercial director at the MSC. “This survey shows that ecolabeling is an effective tool for fisheries, retailers and restaurants wishing to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable fishing.”
About 90 percent of respondents said they consider ocean sustainability to be important, while 55 percent said declining fish stock has become a bigger issue than it was a year ago. As a result of increased concern for ocean health, two out of every five shoppers are actively looking for fish products from sustainable sources — an increase of five percent since 2010.
About two-thirds of respondents said they felt it was important for supermarkets to ensure they sell sustainably caught fish, while 61 percent agreed restaurants should show sustainable seafood options on their menus.
Pricing continues to be a primary factor in determining seafood purchasing decisions, along with traceability of the products and sustainability ranking high as well. Consumers did express a growing readiness to pay more for a product with an ecolabel — 39 percent compared to 32 percent in 2010.
