41% of the 500 Bulgarian consumers, who took part in the poll, said that they “fully agree”, and 44% that they “agree”, that it is important merchants to offer sustainable sea food, 12% didn’t have an opinion, and only 2%, and 1% said they “do not agree”, or “fully disagree” with this statement.
Bulgarians are clear (74%), that if we do not stop buying unsustainably produced fish, sea ecosystems will be destroyed and sea food will be depleted. This is the definite opinion also of the citizens of other countries, which participated in the poll, everywhere the results are definitive: Austria (80%), Italy (75%), Spain (81%), Greece (77%), Portugal (72%), Croatia (74%), Slovenia (75%), Romania (82%), and France (76%).
According to the same poll, 29% of Bulgarians declare that it is easy for them to know if a certain product is sustainable or not. This is not true about the other 46% of the respondents, who claim that they do not know how to find that out. At the same time, 66% of our compatriots say that they do not know where to buy sustainable fish products.
When they choose fish, Bulgarians look first for it to be fresh (70%), in the second place is its price (51%), and the third factor is the kind of the fish (44%). For 39% it is most important that the fish is not contaminated with chemicals or antibiotics, and 33% require knowing its origin. The percentages surpass one hundred because the enquired people gave more than one answer to this question.
Since this year, WWF Bulgaria, together also with ten European representations of the organization, begins work on preparation of recommendations for consumers how to choose sustainable fish and sea products. Useful and updated information on this matter can be found in the site wwf.bg/riba.
What does “sustainable sea food” mean?
“Sustainable sea food” must conform to the following criteria:
• The product is traceable (its origin is known);
• The producer engages with sea habitats;
• The producer engages with endangered species;
• The fish farm does not catch more fish than can recover;
• The producer must be providing just work conditions and must be engaged with the needs of the fishing communities.
Bulgarians choose fish produced in a sustainable fashion
