Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1411841
14 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 19 SEPTEMBER 2021 NEWS JAMES DEBONO MALTA may be an island sur- rounded by sea and marine life, but it also has the third largest percentage of people who never eat fish amongst the EU-27, ac- cording to a Eurobarometer sur- vey. Respondents are most likely to say that they never eat fishery or aquaculture products in Aus- tria (26%), Hungary (25%), Malta (19%) and Italy (17%). Moreover, only 57% of Maltese eat fish at home at least once a month, compared to 64% of re- spondents in all member states. The percentage of Maltese who eat fish at least once a month has declined by 14 points since 2018. Since then, the share of respond- ents who say they eat fishery or aquaculture products at home at least once a month has decreased in 22 EU Member States, and by at least ten percentage points in eight member States, most no- tably in Cyprus (-22 percentage points). Conversely, it has increased in five Member States, particularly in Czechia (+23 pp.) and Ireland (+19 pp.) While only 54% of Maltese aged 15-24 eat fish more than once a month, the percentage rises to 62% among those aged 25-40, and peaks at 64% among the 40-54 age group. But the percentage drops to 58% among those aged over 55. The survey also indicates that higher income groups eat more fish than other categories. While 85% of self-employed and 74% of managers eat fish more than once a month, only 47% of manual workers do likewise. The survey also shows that the Maltese are more likely to eat fish- ery products from a restaurant. While 28% of Maltese respond- ents eat fish from a restaurant at least once a month, only 21% of all EU respondents do likewise. The Portuguese are the most likely in Europe to eat fish more than once a month both at home How frequently do you eat fish and aquaculture products at home? 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 At least once a month Several times a year Less than once a year Never Don't know 57% 64% 19% 19% 2% 5% 19% 11% 3% 1% Malta EU 50 40 30 20 10 0 Prefer wild product Prefer farmed product Depends which product Do not know which is wild or farmed No preference 46% 32% 4% 7% 11% 16% 14% 15% 25% 30% Malta EU Wild or farmed? From where did you buy fishery/aquaculture products in past year? 80 60 40 20 0 Supermarket/gr ocer Fishmonger Street market From �sherman Online 67% 79% 66% 43% 14% 15% 8% 10% 2% 2% Malta EU Which of the following information should be included in the labelling of fishery products? 80 60 40 20 0 Best before date Name of species Whether wild or farmed Area of catch Whether previously frozen Environme ntal impact Fishing gear used for catch 77% 69% 64% 57% 52% 53% 31% 49% 49% 44% 22% 31% 10% 24% Malta EU Only 4% say they prefer farmed to wildly- caught fish, but one-fifth of Maltese say they never eat fish No farmed fish please, we're Maltese... While only 54% of Maltese aged 15-24 eat fish more than once a month, the percentage rises to 62% among those aged 25-40, and peaks at 64% among the 40-54 age group.