FISH CONSUMPTION BEHAVIOR AND CONSTRAINTS AFFECTING FISH CONSUMPTION: A STUDY IN FOUR MAJOR FISH MARKETS IN KOLKATA

This study delved into fish consumer behavior and constraints faced by them in Kolkata, by collecting data from 200 fish buyers during December 2021 to February 2022. Findings revealed that the consumers mainly reside in nuclear families (54%), with men (83%) as primary buyers, typically over 45 years old with an annual income of Rs. 3-5 lakhs. Private sector employment is common among the fish buyers who buy buy fish twice a week, averaging 7 kg monthly. Among the constraints, price fluctuation (RBQ value 80.88) is the most important for Local Carps (LC) fish group. For other choice fish groups (CFG’s) availability (77.94), high price (79.94), price fluctuation (76.33), irregular supply are major constrains affecting the purchasing while buying Inter-state carps, (ISC), Local Non-carps (LNC), Interstate Non-Carps (ISNC), and Small Indigenous fish (SIF), respectively.