Regional and Other Related Aspects of Shellfish Consumption- 

 Some Preliminary Findings 

 From the 1969 Consumer Panel Survey 



By 



MORTON M. MILLER and BARREL A. NASH, Economists 



National Marine Fisheries Service, Division of Economic Research 

 College Park, Md. 20740 



ABSTRACT 



A consumer survey panel, consisting of representative households through- 

 out the United States, recorded their fishery product purchases for a 12-month 

 period, beginning in February 1969. They were participants in a study conducted 

 under the aegis of the National Marine Fisheries Service, Division of Economic 

 Research. This paper deals mainly with study findings respecting the consump- 

 tion of major species of shellfish, at home and away from home. 



Findings of the study indicate marked regional preferences for individual 

 shellfish items. For example, oysters are consumed in South Atlantic States at 

 nearly double the national per capita rate. Similarly, clams enjoy a high rate 

 of consumption in Middle Atlantic and New England areas. All of which sug- 

 gests an important correlation between consumption and tradition as well as a per- 

 sistent tendency for seafood varieties, particularly those consumed in a "fresh" 

 form, to be consumed in the area of catch. 



The study also indicated an association between high income households and 

 shellfish consumption, with oysters a single notable exception. Age of consumer, 

 too, has an apparent bearing on shellfish consumption as it was found that older 

 consumers are the more disposed toward consumption of these products. 



With respect to consumption away from home, it appears that half or more 

 of the crabs and lobsters are consumed in meals outside the home, but the major- 

 ity consumed of other products was at home. 



INTRODUCTION 



This paper reviews several key areas of in- 

 formation yielded in an extensive survey of 

 consumer purchases of fishery products during 

 1969. The survey was conducted under the 

 auspices of the National Marine Fisheries 

 Service and represents a major effort by Ser- 

 vice economists to resolve, at least partially, 

 previously unanswered questions regarding the 



consumption of fish and shellfish. The results 

 of the survey can be developed into useful 

 guidelines for industry decisions, especially in 

 marketing. Also the results can greatly en- 

 hance the accuracy of forecasting future eco- 

 nomic events in the fishing industry. 



It is difficult to overstate the importance of 

 building on our knowledge of consumer be- 

 havior. Consumers in a market economy are 



