A new survey commissioned by the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) reveals that 88 percent of Canadians have consumed seafood in the past three months, but only 15 percent of finfish consumers and 5 percent of shellfish consumers are meeting the Canada Food Guide recommendations of two seafood servings per week.
Released by the CAIA on Monday, the survey found that almost half of Canadians say they regularly eat fish at home, with 42 percent saying they typically order fish in restaurants.
More men (73 percent) than women (66 percent) enjoy fish, and men have a more positive attitude toward farmed seafood than women. Nearly three-quarters of Canadians eat salmon (74 percent), followed by trout (45 percent) and shellfish (43 percent).
Additionally, Canadians are eating finfish an average of 3.7 times per month and shellfish an average of 1.9 times per month. Consumers rated health (79 percent) as the main reason to eat seafood, followed by taste (70 percent).
“The good news is that Canadians are eating seafood,” said CAIA Executive Director Ruth Salmon. “Unfortunately, our seafood consumption frequency is far below national dietary guidelines of eight servings per month. Seafood is one of nature’s best sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack and Alzheimer’s disease, guard against rheumatoid arthritis and reduce depression.”
