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

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.

Automated summary

Asia accounts for a large portion of global aquatic food consumption, but the behaviors and attitudes of Asian consumers towards aquatic food are not well understood. This paper reviews the literature on factors influencing aquatic food consumption behavior in Asia and identifies five clusters of publications. The study finds that price is a central factor influencing aquatic food consumption behavior among Asian consumers, and knowledge and attitudes towards the quality and safety of aquatic foods are important but mediated by household characteristics. Sustainable production practices, country of origin, and ecolabels have less influence on consumption behavior. Future multidisciplinary research is needed to better understand the interactions among the multiple factors that influence Asian consumers' aquatic food consumption behavior.