Fish and Seafood consumption in Chile
¿Do you know how much fish and seafood Chileans eat? According to the Undersecretariat for Fisheries and Aquaculture (Subpesca), in 2020 the apparent annual consumption per person was 15.8 kilograms. The FAO, meanwhile, estimated 13.2 kilograms annually back in 2013. Apparent consumption allows for an estimate of the volume of seafood consumed in the country over a given period of time. This is calculated based on production (imports plus landings and aquaculture), minus exports. However, there was no data revealing how often these products were consumed or which species were the most popular.
In response to this, a group of researchers from Advanced Conservation Strategies (ACS) and the Millennium Institute of Coastal Socio-Ecology (SECOS) decided to find out. ACS combines science and design to generate environmental solutions, while SECOS conducts scientific research for coastal sustainability. Together, they explored in depth the consumption of seafood products in Chile.
Through a survey conducted with 1,000 people across nine regions of the country, the researchers examined the monthly consumption of fish and shellfish, the preferred places to enjoy them, and the most popular species. The data collected—detailed at both regional and national levels—provides insights into the diversity of species consumed, dietary habits to understand the heterogeneity of preferences, and the differences between fish and shellfish consumption. Understanding the diversity in seafood consumption can be linked, for example, to the different nutritional characteristics of each species. In this way, the project sheds light on actual consumption patterns in Chile and will help to understand future changes in diets.
Some of the results reveal that, on average, fish is consumed 3.6 times per month and shellfish 2.3 times per month in Chile. Additionally, the data shows that seafood is mostly consumed at home (90%), and that the most commonly consumed fish nationwide is reineta (41.5%), while the most popular shellfish is the Chilean mussel, or chorito (33.5%).
Check out the complete results. Find local tendencies in chilean regions.
How much fish and seafood is consumed monthly in Chile?
Revisa el resultado pasando el cursor por cada región.
En Chile se consumen en promedio 3,6 veces al mes pescado y 2,3 veces al mes mariscos.
Wich are the most consumed fish and seafood nationwide?
Explore the regional differences in fish and seafood consumption
En las regiones de Antofagasta, Arica, Atacama, Coquimbo, Metropolitana, Valparaíso, la reineta es el pescado más consumido. En tanto, en las regiones del Bío-Bío y Ñuble la preferida es la merluza, mientras que en Los Lagos el salmón.
En las regiones del norte como Antofagasta, Arica, Atacama y Coquimbo, el loco es el marisco preferido por los chilenos. En la zona centro y sur del país, el chorito es el más popular, mientras que en la Región Metropolitana, es la almeja.
More components and data of this survey will be available in the future, that includes preferences for more sustainable seafood and fish traceability, among others.
