Fish is a luxury: For one in two Europeans, it costs too much, and they choose other foods

Brussels – Fish? A luxury. For one in two Europeans, bringing seafood to the table has become virtually unthinkable. The reason is the price, which has become exaggerated. The special survey carried out by Eurobarometer on the habits of Europeans towards fish and seafood highlights precisely this aspect: an economic impossibility that affects diet and nutrition.
The survey asked citizens of the 27 EU states many questions and collected much information. Among these, the answer to the ease of finding affordable fish and shellfish stands out. Only half of the respondents (50 percent, among the convinced and tend to be convinced) admit that “yes,” it is easy to find mussels, clams, soles, trout, and the like at a reasonable price. It means that half of Europeans struggle to go to the fish market. It also holds for Italians. Only 49 percent claim not to have financial problems regarding fish. However, the other half of the country struggles to afford seafood dishes at affordable prices. 

The result of this new luxury is giving up. One in two (49 percent) Europeans tend to replace overpriced fish with other dishes, tending to be meat or other protein sources. This change in habits reflects a reduction in purchasing power, particularly among Croatians and Maltese. Italians, too, are among those who most admit to not buying fish because of high prices and eating something else (58 percent, fifth in the EU for ‘fish fasting’).

The price tag is and remains a key factor in purchasing choices, and fish is no exception. Europeans, as consumers, think in these terms and pay attention, big time, to the cost of living. In this case, almost eight in ten Europeans (78 percent) admit noticing increases in the price of cod, shrimp, octopus, and similar products. The high cost of living is especially noticeable in Mediterranean countries, with households and shoppers in Portugal, Cyprus, Greece, Spain, France, and Italy reporting a rise in the price of seafood products.

Looking at the data, islands, peninsulas, and, generally, countries that, due to their geographical position, would have a lot of fish to bring to the table end up not exploiting the national fish and maritime heritage. The problem lies in the price. Even the European Commission can’t help but admit that “product cost has become the most influential factor for European consumers when buying fish and seafood.”