sapne

Publicattitudestowards

aquaticanimalwelfare

Surveypreparedfor:

September2024

1.Background&

researchdesign

Background&objectives

EfAandCIWFaimtoimprovetheirunderstandingofcitizens'awarenessand

perceptionregardingaquaticanimalwelfare,aswellastheirattitudesand

choicesrelatedtoseafoodconsumption.Thecurrentresearchhas3maingoals:

1AcquireupdatedandrelevantdatatostrengthentheadvocacyeffortofEfA&CIWFandeffectivelyaddressemergingissuesrelatedtoaquaticanimalwelfare.

2Gainstrategicinsightstoshiftcitizens’attitudestowardsaquaticanimalwelfareandunderstandhowtomoveseafoodconsumptionpatterns.

3InfluencetheupcomingEUlegislativedecisionsandaquaculturecertificationschemedevelopments.

···sapience3

Researchdesign&sample

Toanswertheresearchquestions,anonlinesurvey

of±12minuteswasdesigned,which12301

respondentsfrom12differentcountriescompleted.ThefieldworkranfromMarch20thtoApril5th2024.

Datawereweightedineachcountrytobe

nationallyrepresentativebyage,genderandregion.

Thisreporthighlightstheresultsfromthe9EUcountries.

The12countriesincluded:China,CzechRepublic,France,Germany,Greece,Italy,Poland,Spain,Sweden,TheNetherlands,UnitedKingdom,USA

Pleasenotethatduetorounding,percentagesonsomegraphsmayaddupto101%,andthetop-2scoresmaydifferby1%fromtheactualunderlyingscores.

···sapience4

Questionnaire

Thequestionnaireconsistedofthefollowingtopics:

-Background

-AttitudesTowardsAnimals

-Importance&AwarenessofAquaticAnimalWelfare

-ConsumptionHabits&Behaviour

-WelfareLabelling

-Sociodemo&Profiling

···sapience5

2.Results

2.1Attitudes

TowardsAnimals

Mostpeopleagreethatfishcanfeelpain.Thereismoredoubtonthe

emotional/intelligencestatements,thoughthetrendispositive.

“Q5.Towhatextentdoyouagreeordisagreewitheachofthefollowingstatements?”

Fishfeelpain*

Fishfeelnegativeemotions,e.g.fear

Fisharesentient

Fishareintelligent*

Fishfeelpositiveemotions,e.g.pleasure

9%7%13%26%

13%10%17%

16%7%17%

10%12%27%

18%13%24%

45%

37%

37%

30%

29%

23%

23%

22%

16%

0%100%

Top-2%

(tendto/strongly

agree)

71%

60%

60%

51%

45%

?Explicitassociation

scoresaregenerallya

bithigherinFrance,

Germany,Greece,Italy

andPoland,butlower

inSpain,Sweden&The

Netherlands.

?Associationsofwomen

and18-to34yoarea

bitmorepositivethan

theothergender/age

groups.

Base:totalsample(EUcountries:n=9197)

aDon'tknowuStronglydisagreeaTendtodisagreeaTendtoagreeuStronglyagree

*Thisstatementwasnegatedinthequestionnaire,aswasthecaseinthe2018survey(i.e.‘Fishdonotfeelpain’/’Fisharenotintelligent’).Forthesakeofuniforminterpretation,thestatementisreversedhereinthereport.

···sapience8

2.2Importance&

Awarenessof

AquaticAnimal

Welfare

Mostpeoplebelieveweshouldprotectthewelfareoffishjustlikewedofor

otheranimalsweeat.

“Q4.Whichofthefollowingcomesclosesttoyourview?

?Thetop-2scoreisabit

higheramongwomen(93%,

vs.89%amongmen).

?Thesamegoesfor+55yo

(93%),comparedto35-54yo(92%)and18-34yo(88%).

?Finally,thetop-2scoreis

higherinFrance,Greeceand

Italy(all94%),butlowerin

Germany(89%),Poland(89%)

&Sweden(85%).

Thewelfareoffishshouldbeprotectedtoagreater/alesser/the

sameextentthanthewelfareofotheranimalsweeat.”

Top-2%

(same/greaterextent)

9%81%10%91%

0%20%40%60%80%100%

lesserextentsameextentgreaterextent

Base:totalsample(EUcountries:n=9197)····sapience10

Thisconvictiondriveswidespreadadvocacyforenactingstricterlegislation

regardingthewelfareofaquaticanimals.

“Q7.Wouldyousupportoropposelegislationthat…”

requirestheuseofbestpracticesandthelatestsciencetomeet

thewelfareneedsoffarmedaquaticanimals?

guaranteeshighwelfareduringthetransportoflivecrustaceans

(e.g.,crabs,lobsters)?

requiresfarmerstostun(makeunconscious)aquaticanimals

beforeslaughter?

prohibitsfarmersfromfeedingfarmedfishwithwild-caughtfish

thatcouldotherwisebeeatenbyhumans?

prohibitstheintroductionofnewcarnivorousspeciesinto

farming,becausefeedingtheminvolvestheunsustainableuse

ofresources?

11%7%35%

10%8%34%

15%6%10%28%

18%5%15%28%

22%5%15%30%

45%

45%

41%

33%

28%

Top-2%

(moderately/strongly

support)

80%

79%

70%

62%

58%

?Generally,supportseemstobe

strongerinFranceandItaly,while

CzechRepublic,

Sweden&The

Netherlandsscore

lower.

?Thereareno

consistentgenderoragedifferences.

0%100%

Idon’tknowStronglyopposeModeratelyopposeModeratelysupportStronglysupport

Base:totalsample(EUcountries:n=9197)···sapience11

Inaddition,amajorityofcitizensharbortheopinionthatlivesalesofaquaticanimalstoconsumersshouldbebanned.However,theirconcernvaries

slightlybetweenmusselsandotheraquaticspecies.

“Q8.Aquaticanimalsaresometimessoldalivetothefinalconsumer.[…]Pleaseindicatewhichstatementyouagreewithregardingthelivesaleofthefollowingaquaticanimalstoconsumers.”

Fish

Lobsters

Crabs

Mussels

11%8%19%

12%10%18%

12%9%19%

15%12%25%

48%

60%

61%

61%

0%20%40%60%80%100%

Idon'tknowIdon'tcareaboutthisissueItshouldbeallowedtocontinueItshouldbebanned

●

Base:totalsample(EUcountries:n=9197)···sapience12

Thesupportforabanonthelivesaleoffishandlobstersishighestin

Germany,Italy,Poland,FranceandGreece.

“Q8.Aquaticanimalsaresometimessoldalivetothefinalconsumer.[…]Pleaseindicatewhichstatementyouagreewithregardingthelivesaleofthefollowingaquaticanimalstoconsumers.”

EUtotal

Germany

ItalyPolandFranceGreeceSpain

CzechRepublic

TheNetherlandsSweden

FISH

61%

70%

70%

69%

64%

63%

55%

54%

54%

52%

9%7%

10%6%

11%5%10%10%10%8%

14%

14%

15%

17%

20%

12%15%

12%16%

12%

8%

7%

9%

21%

23%

27%

23%

11%8%19%

0%20%40%60%80%100%

EUtotal

Italy

GermanyPolandGreeceFrance

CzechRepublic

TheNetherlands SpainSweden

LOBSTERS

12%10%18%

9%6%13%

9%7%14%

13%7%14%

10%10%19%

10%11%17%

18%11%14%

11%8%25%

12%13%22%

16%12%20%

53%

52%

62%

61%

71%

71%

66%

58%

55%

61%

0%20%40%60%80%100%

Idon'tknowIdon'tcareaboutthisissueItshouldbeallowedtocontinueItshouldbebanned

●

Base:totalsampleEUcountries(n=9197)···sapience13

Finally,citizensalsoexpectpublicfundstobeallocatedtransparently,

prioritizingfarmsthatupholdhighanimalwelfareandsustainabilitystandards.

“Q9.Towhatextentdoyouagreeordisagreewitheachofthefollowingstatements?

Whenpublicmoneyisusedtofundaquaculture…”

thereshouldbeapublicrecordexplaining

howthemoneyisused.

themoneyshouldonlysupportfarmsthat

ensurehighanimalwelfare.

themoneyshouldonlysupportfarmsthatare

sustainable.

6%5%

6%6%

9%9%

56%

36%

43%

34%

32%

51%

Top-2%

(tendto/strongly

agree)

88%

86%

79%

?Thedemandfordirectingpublicfundsexclusively

towardsfarms

guaranteeinghigh

standardsofanimal

welfareisparticularly

pronouncedinFrance,

GermanyandItaly.

CzechRepublic,Poland,

Sweden&The

Netherlandsscore

somewhatlower.

?+55yofindthismoreimportantaswell.

0%100%

uDon'tknowuStronglydisagreeuTendtodisagreeuTendtoagreeuStronglyagree

Base:totalsample(EUcountries:n=9197)

···sapience14

Thereisanotablelackofawarenessregardingfishfarmingpractices,with

nearly50%indicatingfamiliaritywithmax.2statementsonthesubject.

“Q6.Belowyoucanfindsomestatementsconcerningfishfarming.Ineachcase,

pleaseindicatewhetheryouwereawareofthisinformationornot.”

0%20%40%60%80%100%

Antibioticsarecommonlyusedinfishfarming

Farmingsystemstypicallydon’tallowfishtoexhibitalloftheirnaturalbehaviours

Mostfarmedfisharenotstunned(made

unconscious)beforeslaughter

Wild-caughtfishareacommoningredientin

feedsgiventofarmedfish

Fishusuallyspendbetween2and5yearsgrowingonfarms

The%offishthatdieduringrearingonfarmsis

muchhigherthanthatoffarmedlandanimals

Mostfarmedsalmonaredeafduetointensive

breedingpractices

40%

42%

61%

63%

65%

66%

82%

60%

58%

34%

39%

35%

37%

18%

No,IhavenotheardthisbeforeYes,Ialreadyknewthis

Base:totalsampleEUcountries(n=9197)

Totalawareness

score(/7)

avg.2.8

High(6-7)

Medium(3-5)

Low(0-2)

11%

42%

48%

?Averageawarenessis

higherinFrance(3.2),

Poland(3.2)and

Germany(3.0),butlower

inSpain(2.2),Czech

Republic(2.5)andThe

Netherlands(2.7).

?Awarenessofmen(3.0)

ishigherthanofwomen

(2.7).Youngerage

groupsalsoscorebetter.

···sapience15

2.3Consumption

Habits&Behaviour

Roughly50%oftheEUpopulationidentifiesasmeateaters...

“Q10.Whichofthefollowingtermsdoyouusetodescribeyourdiet?”

Meateater/omnivoreFlexitarian

Reducitarian

VegetarianDairy-free

Pescetarian

Vegan

Other

Idonotdescribemydietasanyofthese

Base:totalsample(EUcountries:n=9197)

10%

10%

5%

3%

3%

2%

1%

18%

47%

?Theproportionofmeat

eatersishigherinCzech

Republic(76%),Sweden

(56%),Italy(53%)and

Spain(51%),andlowerin

Germany(21%),France

(37%),TheNetherlands

(39%)andGreece(43%).

?Men(52%),35-54yo(48%)and+55yo(52%)

alsomoreoftenconsumemeat.

···sapience17

…and4outof10EUcitizensconsumefishatleastonceaweek.

“Q11.Roughlyhowoften,ifatall,doyou…?”

40%

43%

39%

25%

32%

21%

eatfish?

buyfishforconsumption?

?Weeklyfishconsumption ishigherinSpain(65%), Italy(52%)andFrance(45%),butlowerinCzechRepublic(13%),Germany (28%),TheNetherlands(33%)andPoland(35%).

0%100%

wLessthanoncemonth/NeverwAtleastonceamonthAtleastonceaweek

Base:totalsample(EUcountries:n=9197)····sapience18

Consumersprimarilyprioritizefactorssuchasfreshness,quality,andcostwhenselectingfish.Additionally,61%ofconsumersalsotakeintoaccountwelfare-relatedconsiderations.

“Q12.Towhatextent,ifatall,doeseachofthefollowingthingshave

animpactonyourchoiceofwhichfishyoubuy?”

Top-2%

(some/greatimpact)

ThefreshnessofthefishThequalityofthefishThecost

TheamountofbycatchinvolvedinthefishingprocessWhetherthefishwasfarmedorcaughtinthewildWhetherthespeciesisbeingoverfished

ThewelfareofthefishTheenvironmentalimpactofthefishingorfarmingmethod

ThegeographicallocationwherethefishwasfarmedorcaughtTheworkingconditionsofpeoplecatching/processingthefishThebrand

63%

59%

47%

30%

37%

33%

34%

37%

38%

33%

37%

7%10%

11%11%

9%10%

9%10%

6%12%

12%14%

6%16%

3%3%7%

3%2%6%

2%3%10%

14%

30%

29%

28%

27%

26%

26%

19%

19%

39%

30%

25%

20%

25%

16%

18%

19%

14%

21%

17%

11%

87%89%85%60%66%61%61%63%63%54%53%

?Thewelfareofthe

fishhasabigger

impactinItaly(71%),

Germany(67%),

Poland(67%)and

Greece(67%),anda

smallerimpactin

CzechRepublic

(45%),The

Netherlands(49%)

andSweden(57%).

uDon’tknowHasnoimpactuHaslittleimpactaHassomeimpactHasagreatimpact·

Base:buysfishforconsumption(EUcountries:n=8445)···sapience19

Thewillingnesstopayforhigherwelfarefishproductsisquitehigh:9outof10wouldliketobuyhigherwelfarefishproducts,withalmost1outof4willingtopayasignificantpremium.

“Q13.Whichofthefollowingbestdescribesyourpreferenceswhenitcomestobuyinghigherwelfarefishproducts?”

Iwouldnotpayanyextraforhigherwelfareproducts

Iwouldliketobuyhigherwelfareproducts,butwouldnotbeabletopayanyextra

7%

23%

25%

45%

Iwouldliketobuyhigherwelfareproducts,andwouldpay

considerablymoreforthesethanalowerwelfareoption

Iwouldliketobuythehigherwelfareproducts,butwouldonlypayalittleextraforthesethanalowerwelfareoption

?Thetop-2willingnesstopay

forhigherwelfarefish

productsishigherinPoland

(75%)andGermany,and

lowerinCzechRepublic

(60%)andGreece(60%).

Base:buysfishforconsumption(EUcountries:n=8445)····sapience20

Consumersrecognizenumerousbenefitsinoptingforhigherwelfarefish

products,encompassingboththewelfareofthefishandtheoverallquality

ofthefood.

“Q14.What,ifanything,doyouthinkarethebenefitsfor

youofchoosing‘higherwelfare’fishproducts?”

Knowingthatthefishwastreatedwellthrouhoutitslife

Theproductisofahighquality

Knowingthatthefishwascaughtorfarmedinasustainableway

BettertasteTheproductissafetoconsume

BetterfreshnessAmorenutritiousproduct

Other

Noneofthese

Base:totalsample(EUcountries:n=9197)

41%

40%

39%

33%

33%

32%

21%

7%

···sapience21

2.4Welfare

Labelling

EUcitizensseemtoassociateaquaticanimalwelfareconsiderationswith

sustainabilitylabels.

“Q16.Inyouropinion,whichofthefollowing,ifany,doyouthinktheterm

“Sustainable”onafishproducttellsyouaboutthatproduct?”

Ifthefishwasfarmed,itcamefromafarmthatminimisedits

pollutionoftheenvironment

Thefarmingsystemusedinproductionisenergyandresource

efficient

Ifthefishwaswild-caught,stepsweretakentoavoidbycatch

Ifthefishwasfarmed,itwaskeptinconditionsthatallowedittoexhibitallnaturalbehaviours

Thespeciesoffishisnotcurrentlyoverfished

Thefishwaskilledquicklyandpainlessly

Thepeopleinvolvedincatchingandpackingtheproductenjoyedgoodworkingconditionsandpay

Ifthefishwasfarmedandgivenfeedcontainingwild-caughtfish,suchfeedwasnotfromanoverfishedpopulation

Base:totalsample(EUcountries:n=9197)

0%20%40%60%80%100%

16%

17%

17%

19%

19%

26%

27%

25%

46%

60%

56%

56%

34%

26%

24%

25%

54%

47%

27%

27%

27%

27%

57%

41%

Don’tknowDoesn’tmeanDoesmean

···sapience23

Theyalsoshowopennesstohavinginformationabout