Trends in Fish and Fishery Products Consumption in Turkey

Abstract

This paper analyzes fish and fishery products consumption patterns and trends from five nationally representative cross-sectional surveys' raw data conducted in 1994, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 totalling of 77.744 householders in Turkey within the last 12 years period. In particular, we analysed the influences of different years, rural-urban locations, gender, age, income, education and occupation on fish and fishery products consumption in Turkey. According to results, the shares of total fish and fishery product consumption in total households' expenditure were overall 32% in Turkey within the last 12 years period. The results also showed that fish and fishery product consumption has been steady increasing in Turkey. Between 1994 and 2003 there was 6% increase of fish consumption. The increase witnessed over the nine - year period continued to rise in 2004, 2005 and 2006 regardless of the participating households being less in number. A monthly average of 8.7 TL was spent on fish and fishery products between the years 2003-2006 in Turkey. There was a 5% difference between rural and urban location and while in average 8.7 TL in cities and 8.8 TL spent on fish in rural places. According to the results of this article, there is a statistically significant difference between socioeconomic factors and fish and fishery products consumption in Turkey.