scholarly journals Ecolabeled seafood and sustainable consumption in the Canadian context: issues and insights from a survey of seafood consumers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Winson ◽  
Jin Young Choi ◽  
Devan Hunter ◽  
Chantelle Ramsundar
Keyword(s):  
Marine Environment ◽  
Environmental Concern ◽  
Sustainable Consumption ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Ecological Citizenship ◽  
Greater Toronto Area ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Sustainable Seafood ◽  
Seafood Products ◽  
The Public Sphere

AbstractThe concept of sustainable consumption is a much debated practice that has been seen as an outcome of the emergence of ecological citizenship—a concept that brings together the citizen and the environment in a framework that is underlined by social justice considerations and incorporates a vision of citizenship that involves both the private sphere and the public sphere of human activity. This study examines Canadian consumer awareness and uptake of certified sustainable seafood. We introduce the concepts ecological citizenship and sustainable consumption as a way of framing our research. Seafood ecolabels may be a valuable tool in translating general environmental concern about the marine environment into more sustainable fisheries practices. We conducted an on-site consumer survey in the Greater Toronto Area and a nearby city. Our findings showed that in contrast to high levels of awareness of the importance of the marine environment and the sustainability of seafood, consumers had a limited understanding about the meaning of sustainability in the case of seafood, and little knowledge about actual ecolabels found in the Canadian marketplace. Attitudes towards the marine environment and sustainable seafood, understanding of the meaning of seafood sustainability, and purchasing behaviors of sustainable seafood were significantly different by some socio-demographic characteristics. Positive attitudes towards the marine environment and sustainable seafood and better understanding of seafood sustainability were significantly associated with the increased purchasing of ecolabeled seafood. Lack of understanding of ecolabels, limited information about product sustainability, and lack of in-store guidance were identified as key barriers to purchasing ecolabeled seafood products.

Does seafood knowledge relate to more sustainable consumption?

2015 ◽  
Vol 117 (2) ◽  
pp. 894-914 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheila Almeida ◽  
Themistoklis Altintzoglou ◽  
Henrique Cabral ◽  
Sofia Vaz
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Consumption ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Small Pelagic Fish ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Consumption Frequency ◽  
Sustainable Seafood ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
High Knowledge ◽  
Seafood Products ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – Portugal is a country with one of the highest seafood consumption per capita in the world. The purpose of this paper is to understand the Portuguese knowledge and attitudes towards seafood and relate it to consumers’ environmental conscious. Design/methodology/approach – Using an internet-based survey the authors investigated the relation of socio-demographic variables to consumption frequency and how knowledge about seafood is associated with interest in different information when purchasing seafood products. Findings – Results demonstrate consumption of a high diversity of species. Tuna and cod are the top species related to convenience and food traditions. There is a preference to consume seafood mostly at home and prepared grilled. Differences between higher and lower knowledgeable consumers’ related to seafood, show that the first ones have a more diversified use of species and high prevalence of small pelagic fish. Research limitations/implications – The findings are influenced by the sample obtained, which over-represents well-educated and higher income people. Moreover the self-reported consumption can be biased by individuals own perceptions and different seafood products. Better estimations of consumption frequency could result from asking more detailed information, as such as by species or meal occasions. Practical implications – Portuguese consumers have high knowledge about seafood but it is not necessarily related to sustainable choices. To help in sustainable seafood choices it might be more effective to promote existing habits based on Portuguese traditions that still are good alternatives for the marine environment. Originality/value – A higher consumer’s knowledge does not necessarily mean more sustainability.

scholarly journals Fraud in highly appreciated fish detected from DNA in Europe may undermine the Development Goal of sustainable fishing in Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen Blanco-Fernandez ◽  
Alba Ardura ◽  
Paula Masiá ◽  
Noemi Rodriguez ◽  
Laura Voces ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Consumption ◽  
Pcr Amplification ◽  
Molecular Tools ◽  
Food Authenticity ◽  
Production And Consumption ◽  
Fish Samples ◽  
Sustainable Seafood ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Unregulated Fishing ◽  
High Effort

AbstractDespite high effort for food traceability to ensure safe and sustainable consumption, mislabeling persists on seafood markets. Determining what drives deliberate fraud is necessary to improve food authenticity and sustainability. In this study, the relationship between consumer’s appreciation and fraudulent mislabeling was assessed through a combination of a survey on consumer’s preferences (N = 1608) and molecular tools applied to fish samples commercialized by European companies. We analyzed 401 samples of fish highly consumed in Europe and worldwide (i.e. tuna, hake, anchovy, and blue whiting) through PCR-amplification and sequencing of a suite of DNA markers. Results revealed low mislabeling rate (1.9%), with a higher mislabeling risk in non-recognizable products and significant mediation of fish price between consumer´s appreciation and mislabeling risk of a species. Furthermore, the use of endangered species (e.g. Thunnus thynnus), tuna juveniles for anchovy, and still not regulated Merluccius polli hake as substitutes, points towards illegal, unreported and/or unregulated fishing from African waters. These findings reveal a worrying intentional fraud that hampers the goal of sustainable seafood production and consumption, and suggest to prioritize control efforts on highly appreciated species.

Enhancing Sustainable Consumption in China: A Seafood Example

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 172-198
Author(s):  
Juan He
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Sustainable Consumption ◽  
Purchasing Decisions ◽  
Chinese Consumers ◽  
Consumer Law ◽  
Sustainable Seafood ◽  
Legal Entitlement ◽  
Right To Information ◽  
Willingness To Purchase ◽  
The Right

Abstract In recent years, market surveys on sustainable seafood consumption have analysed Chinese people’s willingness to purchase ecolabelled seafood produced and imported into China. Endogenous and exogenous determinants are thereby unveiled to explore Chinese consumers’ sustainability consciousness, purchasing decisions, and the means of bridging the divide. This article builds upon and adds to these empirical findings with a market-based and information lens. It draws inspiration from analysing the growing interest of younger and middle-class consumers in acquiring seafood information; integrative sourcing and marketing strategies of intermediary businesses to deliver such information; and awakening of public regulators to the imperative of realizing the right to information of less-informed parties. Instead of segregating these stakeholders along a linear supply chain, the study emphasizes the deepening of a consumer-centric information network underpinned by supply chain transparency and traceability. It thus aims to inform a steady shift from a production-oriented to a consumer-oriented seafood management paradigm through systematic reforms of China’s consumer law. To encourage and empower sustainable consumption, the ‘consumer’ notion needs proper broadening and consumers’ right to know should be recognized as a judicial and self-contained legal entitlement with enforcement safeguards.

scholarly journals Exploring Socio-Cognitive Mindfulness in the Context of Sustainable Consumption

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (13) ◽  
pp. 3692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina Helm ◽  
Brintha Subramaniam
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Environmental Concern ◽  
Sustainable Consumption ◽  
Daily Consumption ◽  
Individual Values ◽  
Values And Beliefs ◽  
Perceived Consumer Effectiveness ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Consumer Characteristic

Mindfulness has been presented as a consumer characteristic mitigating negative environmental effects of overconsumption. This study argues that consumers’ propensity to engage in sustainable consumption behaviors additionally depends on individual values and beliefs, developing a more nuanced view of mindfulness in this particular domain of consumer behavior. Based on an online survey among 546 American consumers, the study finds that mindfulness not only affects a set of sustainable consumption behaviors directly, but also has an impact on environmental concern and perceived consumer effectiveness, accounting for an indirect positive effect of mindfulness through these values and beliefs. Materialism is negatively associated with mindfulness. However, certain forms of sustainable consumption behaviors may offer a pathway for materialist consumers to participate in sustainable consumption. Research findings indicate that increased mindfulness may be effective in changing daily consumption routines, helping to reduce negative environmental impacts of overconsumption, particularly in populations with increased environmental concern and perceived consumer effectiveness.

scholarly journals The Significance of Mesophilic Aeromonas spp. in Minimally Processed Ready-to-Eat Seafood

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunniva Hoel ◽  
Olav Vadstein ◽  
Anita Jakobsen
Keyword(s):  
Cold Water ◽  
Foodborne Pathogen ◽  
Housekeeping Genes ◽  
Aeromonas Species ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Biochemical Tests ◽  
Minimally Processed ◽  
Identification Schemes ◽  
Seafood Products

Minimally processed and ready-to-eat (RTE) seafood products are gaining popularity because of their availability in retail stores and the consumers’ perception of convenience. Products that are subjected to mild processing and products that do not require additional heating prior to consumption are eaten by an increasing proportion of the population, including people that are more susceptible to foodborne disease. Worldwide, seafood is an important source of foodborne outbreaks, but the exact burden is not known. The increased interest in seafood products for raw consumption introduces new food safety issues that must be addressed by all actors in the food chain. Bacteria belonging to genus Aeromonas are ubiquitous in marine environments, and Aeromonas spp. has held the title “emerging foodborne pathogen” for more than a decade. Given its high prevalence in seafood and in vegetables included in many RTE seafood meals, the significance of Aeromonas as a potential foodborne pathogen and a food spoilage organism increases. Some Aeromonas spp. can grow relatively uninhibited in food during refrigeration under a broad range of pH and NaCl concentrations, and in various packaging atmospheres. Strains of several Aeromonas species have shown spoilage potential by the production of spoilage associated metabolites in various seafood products, but the knowledge on spoilage in cold water fish species is scarce. The question about the significance of Aeromonas spp. in RTE seafood products is challenged by the limited knowledge on how to identify the truly virulent strains. The limited information on clinically relevant strains is partly due to few registered outbreaks, and to the disputed role as a true foodborne pathogen. However, it is likely that illness caused by Aeromonas might go on undetected due to unreported cases and a lack of adequate identification schemes. A rather confusing taxonomy and inadequate biochemical tests for species identification has led to a biased focus towards some Aeromonas species. Over the last ten years, several housekeeping genes has replaced the 16S rRNA gene as suitable genetic markers for phylogenetic analysis. The result is a more clear and robust taxonomy and updated knowledge on the currently circulating environmental strains. Nevertheless, more knowledge on which factors that contribute to virulence and how to control the potential pathogenic strains of Aeromonas in perishable RTE seafood products are needed.

Exploring Relationship among Green Product Intention and its Determinants

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohit Bhagat ◽  
Vinay Chauhan
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Behaviour ◽  
Environmental Concern ◽  
Sustainable Consumption ◽  
Environmental Knowledge ◽  
Consumption Pattern ◽  
Green Product ◽  
Green Products ◽  
Environmentally Sustainable ◽  
Perceived Consumer Effectiveness ◽  
Purchasing Patterns

In the recent years there has been a lot of growth in consumer intention towards purchasing green products. Environmental concern has been described as a vital force for achieving sustainable development. Evidences reveal that increasing environmental concern has positively influenced the consumption pattern of green products. This has lead to the concept of sustainable consumption in the behaviour which in turn led to a greater faith in energy efficient products and appliances for environmentally sustainable consumers. The last decade has witnessed an impressive increase in Environmental concern which has had a greater effect on consumer intention for the Green products. The increase of the environmental knowledge has had a thoughtful effect on consumer behaviour, with the green product market expanding at a remarkable rate The present study shows that environment concern is evidently predicted from consumers’ purchasing patterns, with consumers increasingly preferring to buy ‘green products. The study tries to develop relationship among environmental knowledge, normative beliefs and perceived consumer effectiveness, and their effect on intention towards sustainable green products.

scholarly journals Collaborative Barriers Among University - Industry - Policy (U-I-P) Entities on Environmental Matters: A Case Study in Sarawak, Malaysia

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 316-329
Author(s):  
Janice Manyie ◽  
Geoffery James Gerusu ◽  
Roland Kueh Jui Heng
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Environmental Concern ◽  
Success Factor ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Private Knowledge ◽  
The Status ◽  
Industry Policy ◽  
University Industry

Realizing the importance of practicing environmental concern, it is needed to understand the tools used to tackle the issues. In this study, university – industry – policy (U-I-P) entities collaboration is a significant approach that was viewed to be the success factor towards the efforts of tackling environmental issues. Collaboration work, which involves different entities benefit in a way that pushes the entities to move towards shared objectives and goals which is to improve the environmental condition. However, although the significance of U-I-P entities collaboration was known and the linkages among U-I-P entities has started, there are still limited information on the practice of collaboration specifically on the U-I-P entities linkage structures on environmental matters in Sarawak. Thus, there is a need to identify the barriers and success factor in order to develop successful collaboration. This study addressed the gap through a mixed method of qualitative and quantitative approaches which the data were collected from 199 respondents based on a face to face interview using structured questionnaires in the major divisions of Sarawak. Drawing from a large scale of study, the study explores the status of collaboration and the barriers of collaboration in Sarawak. Findings indicated that cost, private knowledge and knowledge barrier to be a major hurdle that inhibit the development of collaboration. The assessment suggested that more efforts to increase awareness on collaboration be disseminated.

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