Factors Influencing Consumption Behaviour towards Aquatic Food among Asian Consumers: A Systematic Scoping Review

Citation

Budhathoki M, Campbell D, Belton B, Newton R, Li S, Zhang W & Little D (2022) Factors Influencing Consumption Behaviour towards Aquatic Food among Asian Consumers: A Systematic Scoping Review. Foods, 11 (24), Art. No.: 4043. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11244043

Abstract
Asia accounts for over 70% of total global aquatic food consumption, but aquatic food consumption behaviours and attitudes among Asian consumers are poorly documented and understood. This paper synthesises literature on factors influencing aquatic food consumption behaviour in Asia and the potential to support transitions toward more sustainable food consumption patterns. We identified 113 studies for inclusion in a scoping review, and identified five clusters of publications: (1) product attributes, availability, and accessibility (24% of publications); (2) willingness to pay for aquatic foods (25%); (3) psychosocial factors (e.g., attitudes and subjective norms) (17%); (4) sociodemographic and lifestyle factors (21%); and (5) miscellaneous factors, including food safety and social status (13%). This study indicates that multiple interacting factors influence aquatic food consumption behaviours among Asian consumers, among which price is central. Knowledge of, and attitudes toward, the perceived quality and safety of aquatic foods were identified as important but were mediated by household characteristics. Sustainable production practices, country of origin, and ecolabels were found to be less influential on consumption behaviour. We found that improving consumers’ knowledge and attitudes about the quality and safety of aquatic foods might positively influence aquatic food consumption behaviour. Future multidisciplinary research is required to better understand interactions among the multiple factors that influence Asian consumers’ aquatic food consumption behaviour.

Keywords
fish consumption; consumer behaviour; seafood preference; fisheries; acquaculture; Asia

Journal
Foods: Volume 11, Issue 24

People

Mr Mausam Budhathoki

ITN Early Stage Researcher, Institute of Aquaculture

Professor Danny Campbell

Professor, Economics

Dr Saihong Li

Senior Lecturer in Translation Studies, French

Professor Dave Little

Professor, Institute of Aquaculture

Dr Richard Newton

Lecturer in Resilient Food Systems, Institute of Aquaculture