Page 29 - Rižnar, Igor, and Klemen Kavčič (ed.). 2017. Connecting Higher Education Institutions with Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 29
The Co-Creation of Competitive Knowledge
tion are not possible for many of these businesses due to lack of capital
or market demand. However, some larger organisations have emerged
as the sector has developed; food supply from aquaculture is expanding
while wild fish yields diminish due to overexploitation and migration
(Fischer et al. 2015). The aquaculture sector is relatively small and not
attractive for the development of supporting industries, which makes
investments more expensive. According to the Scientific, Technical and
Economic Committee for Fisheries (2014) observation, there are only
a limited number of countries that expect a substantial growth in the
sector despite the general desire by e u member states to expand pro-
duction (Schlag and Ystgaard 2013; Scientific, Technical and Economic
Committee for Fisheries 2014, 14, 18; Wagner and Young 2009).
In general, European consumers have little knowledge or awareness
of the origin of fish. This results in uncertainty in consumers’ percep-
tion of farmed fish in particular. This case study is in line with other
research, suggesting that perceptions of aquaculture and farmed fish
are based more on emotions than on rational considerations. Still, the
perception of farmed fish is positive in general (Fonda 2013a; 2013b).
Consumers do not prioritise the origin of fish as an information cue,
although variation is present between different consumer groups. Con-
sumers of predominantly farmed versus wild fish do not have a very
distinct profile, which corroborates the only modest significance of fish
origin as a product-specific information cue during the fish purchase
and consumption decision process (Honkanen and Olsen 2009; Van-
honacker et al. 2011).
Fish farming does not seem to arouse animal welfare concerns among
consumers in the study of Honkanen and Olsen (2009). This finding
contradicts the generally accepted view that animal welfare issues in
food production are becoming more and more important for consumers
in the eu (Ellingsen et al. 2015; Thøgersen, Haugaard, and Olesen 2010).
However, these issues are mainly related to agricultural practices. The
findings of Honkanen and Olsen (2009) also confirm that consumers
are much more concerned about general environmental and sustain-
ability problems related to fishing rather than animal welfare issues.
The media coverage of fish welfare issues has been quite poor in e.g.
Spain, and the issue is new in fish farming.
For example, the Norwegian public is concerned about fish welfare
and is willing to pay a premium price for products made from welfare-
assured fish. Norwegian consumers do not want to be the only ones
27
tion are not possible for many of these businesses due to lack of capital
or market demand. However, some larger organisations have emerged
as the sector has developed; food supply from aquaculture is expanding
while wild fish yields diminish due to overexploitation and migration
(Fischer et al. 2015). The aquaculture sector is relatively small and not
attractive for the development of supporting industries, which makes
investments more expensive. According to the Scientific, Technical and
Economic Committee for Fisheries (2014) observation, there are only
a limited number of countries that expect a substantial growth in the
sector despite the general desire by e u member states to expand pro-
duction (Schlag and Ystgaard 2013; Scientific, Technical and Economic
Committee for Fisheries 2014, 14, 18; Wagner and Young 2009).
In general, European consumers have little knowledge or awareness
of the origin of fish. This results in uncertainty in consumers’ percep-
tion of farmed fish in particular. This case study is in line with other
research, suggesting that perceptions of aquaculture and farmed fish
are based more on emotions than on rational considerations. Still, the
perception of farmed fish is positive in general (Fonda 2013a; 2013b).
Consumers do not prioritise the origin of fish as an information cue,
although variation is present between different consumer groups. Con-
sumers of predominantly farmed versus wild fish do not have a very
distinct profile, which corroborates the only modest significance of fish
origin as a product-specific information cue during the fish purchase
and consumption decision process (Honkanen and Olsen 2009; Van-
honacker et al. 2011).
Fish farming does not seem to arouse animal welfare concerns among
consumers in the study of Honkanen and Olsen (2009). This finding
contradicts the generally accepted view that animal welfare issues in
food production are becoming more and more important for consumers
in the eu (Ellingsen et al. 2015; Thøgersen, Haugaard, and Olesen 2010).
However, these issues are mainly related to agricultural practices. The
findings of Honkanen and Olsen (2009) also confirm that consumers
are much more concerned about general environmental and sustain-
ability problems related to fishing rather than animal welfare issues.
The media coverage of fish welfare issues has been quite poor in e.g.
Spain, and the issue is new in fish farming.
For example, the Norwegian public is concerned about fish welfare
and is willing to pay a premium price for products made from welfare-
assured fish. Norwegian consumers do not want to be the only ones
27
