Taro Oishi

Changes in Fish Consumption Desire and Its Factors: A Comparison between the United Kingdom and Singapore

It is widely known that rapid population growth and income improvement in some developing countries, and growing health consciousness in some developed countries, are the main factors that have contributed to the global increase in the consumption of fishery products in the past few decades. While a detailed analysis of fish consumption behavior is being conducted in several countries, there are other countries where changes in fish consumption desire and their social and psychological factors are not fully clarified. This study investigates the changes in fish consumption desire and its associated factors in the United Kingdom (UK) and Singapore. Primary data were gathered from 1200 participants through a web questionnaire survey in the UK and Singapore. The results show that approximately five times as many respondents stated that the desire to purchase fish had increased in both the UK and Singapore compared to those that believed it had not 10 years ago. Second, the increase in fish consumption in the UK is positively associated with younger age, cheaper price, the health benefits of fish, concern over the health of meat, and religion. Third, the increase in fish consumption in Singapore is positively associated with cheaper prices and is negatively associated with concerns over sustainability.

Sex Differences in the Relationship between Sleep Behavior, Fish Consumption, and Depressive Symptoms in the General Population of South Korea

Sleep, fish consumption, and depression have a close relationship; however, the role of sex differences in sleep, fish consumption, and depression research is not yet well-established. This study aimed to examine whether the impact of bedtime, sleep-onset latency, sleep duration, sleep quality, and fish consumption on depressive symptoms differed in women and men. An online survey was conducted in South Korea with a stratified random sample of 600 participants between the ages of 20 and 69, whose gender and age were proportional to estimates of Korea’s general population. The 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale was used to measure depressive symptoms with a cut-off score of 16. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was applied to evaluate sleep timing, sleep-onset latency, sleep duration, and sleep quality. Our results indicated that late bedtime and short sleep duration were independently associated with depressive symptoms in women. Sleep-onset latency and poor sleep quality were independently associated with increased prevalence of depressive symptoms in both men and women. Higher fish consumption was significantly associated with decreased prevalence of depressive symptoms in men only. Our findings suggested the importance of a different approach for men and women in terms of promoting healthy sleep habits. In addition, higher fish consumption may be beneficial in the primary prevention of depression in Korean men. Further research is needed to confirm the findings from this cross-sectional study.

The effect of the way seafood is consumed on fishery management awareness: Evidence from Japan

Abstract To deal with declining seafood consumption in Japan, the Japanese government has promoted a campaign termed “Fast Fish,” which offers convenient and unique processed fishery products for consumption. Although the campaign is expected to restore seafood consumption and contribute to health enhancements, it could pressure fishery resources without providing sufficient resource management. Furthermore, promoting processed fishery products might make consumers forget that the materials are originally from living fish and regard that they are mere inorganic items. If that is the case, Fast Fish campaign could have negative impacts on consumers’ consideration for wild fish in the ocean. This study examined the effects of the way seafood is consumed on consumers’ fishery management awareness, focusing on the difference between eating processed seafood products, eating raw fish, and cooking fish to eat. Survey data were analyzed by structural equation modeling. The results found that cooking fish to eat significantly improved consumers’ awareness of fishery management, but consuming processed seafood products or raw fish did not. These results imply that it is desirable to leave certain room for cooking or to provide the information about fishery management at the same time when promoting “Fast Fish.”