ABSTRACT

The study examined fish consumption in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from a total of 60 fish consumers using a simple random sampling. Data were collected on household consumption activities between May and July 2015. The data relevant to this research were collected through the use of a well-structured questionnaire and interrogation. The data collected were analyzes by the use of statistical techniques such as frequencies, percentages, test of significance, regression analysis and descriptive statistics. The result showed that 60% of the respondent preferred fish to other animal protein sources due to its affordability, nutritive value, availability, respectively. The result also reveals that the average consumers of fish are literate at secondary level of education with mean of household size of 4. It was evident from the study that the household income affects consumption insignificantly but it is noticed that the higher +th, e household income the higher the amount of fish consumed. Also the quantity of fish consumed decreases as age increases and as price of fish increases. Hence, the major constraints to fish consumption in the study include; insufficient number of fish markets, small number of fish farmers and high price of fish. Therefore, recommended policy actions should be directed towards the given incentives to those who practice aquaculture to enable them expand production so as to meet the demands of the people and increase consumption.