Consumers’ Awareness of Fish Traceability and Sustainability: An Exploratory Study in Italy and Spain

Giovanni Fiorile, Sharon Puleo (), Francesca Colonna, Simona Mincione, Paolo Masi, Nuria Herranz Solana and Rossella Di Monaco
Additional contact information
Giovanni Fiorile: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Napoli, Italy
Sharon Puleo: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Napoli, Italy
Francesca Colonna: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Napoli, Italy
Simona Mincione: Enco Consulting—Enco Srl Via Michelangelo Schipa, 115, 80122 Napoli, Italy
Paolo Masi: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Napoli, Italy
Nuria Herranz Solana: Packaging, Transport & Logistics Research Center (ITENE), Albert Einstein 1, 46980 Paterna, Spain
Rossella Di Monaco: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Napoli, Italy

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 19, 1-12

Abstract: Fish products are widely consumed in different European countries for their nutritional composition, such as their high protein content, omega-3 fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, and low carbohydrate content. Therefore, fishing provides important income and commercial opportunities in different Mediterranean coastal countries. As the increased consumption of fish products is leading to negative ecological impacts on marine flora and fauna, sustainability labels are increasingly emerging. Furthermore, to increase transparency in the fisheries sector and increase consumer confidence when purchasing, fish traceability is becoming increasingly important. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the importance of fish traceability and the knowledge of some fish sustainability labels in two European coastal countries, Italy and Spain. The investigation was carried out through an online questionnaire filled out by 1913 consumers in Italy and Spain. The main results show that receiving traceability information was mainly important for the Italian population, while, although fish sustainability is increasingly important, respondents did not demonstrate that they frequently buy fish products with sustainability labels. The study also highlighted how the main characteristics of the respondents may influence their habits and perceptions regarding the issues.

Keywords: online questionnaire; food sustainability labels; consumer confidence; social-demographic influence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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