Fish Consumption Patternof the People in Kommathurai VillageT.Anuja, K.Premakumar and T.Gayathiri

Contents

Introduction Materials and Methods Results and discussion Conclusions References

Introduction Fish are the principle source of protein for Sri

Lanka's population, and play a vital role in meeting basic nutritional and livelihood needs.

Over 96% of Sri Lankan consumes fresh or processed fish, which provides an estimated 65 – 70 % of the mean annual animal protein intake (Sugunan, 1997).

Introduction Fishes are important food for people living in

Batticaloa region.

In total fish production of the Batticaloa district, sea (marine), pond (fresh) and lagoon (brackish) fishes are consumed by the people living in Kommathurai village.

Nutritive value of fish

Composition %

Moisture 66 - 84

Protein 15 - 24

Fat 0.1 - 22

Ash 0.8 - 2.2

Carbohydrate 1 - 3

Elements Content mg/100g

Sodium 30 - 134

Potassium 19 - 502

calcium 19 - 881

Magnesium 68 - 550

Iron 1 - 5.60

Chlorine 3 - 761

Iodine 0 - 2.73

Major fish production places in Sri Lanka

Materials and MethodsSurvey Study Kommathurai village - Eravur pattu

Divisional Secretariat Division. Time period - January to April, 2008. Questionnaire preparation & Data

collection. Data transformation & analysis.

Map of Survey area

Results and Discussion

Food habit of peopleFood habit of people

95%

5%

Non vegetarian

vegetarian

The 95% of people - non vegetarian Main meal - fishes.

Consumer preference of fish type

Consumer preference of fish type

70%

30% All fishes( sea fish,lagoon fish, pond fish)

sea fish

Fish consumption patternFish consumption

64.5%20.5%

15%

Lunch and Dinner

Lunch

Dinner

Fish consumption average is 5 days / week Adult person intake 75 ± 5 g / day

Consumer preference of sea fish species Mostly preferred sea fish species

55%22%

13%10% Seela

Keeri

Suran

Others

Mostly preferred sea fish is Seela : Sphyraena jello (22 %)

Consumer preference of lagoon fish species

Mostly preferred lagoon fish species

60%20%

15%5% Thilapia

Kelakkan

Keluththy

Others

Mostly preferred lagoon fish is Tilapia : Oreochromis mosambicus (60%)

Consumer preference of pond fish species

Mostly preferred fish pond fish species

55%21%

14%

10%Viral

Panaiyan

Sunkan

Others

Mostly preferred pond fish is Viral : Rachycentron canadum (55%).

Consumers preference for fish products

Consumers prefered fish products

55%

15%

15%

10% 5% Normal curry

dried fish

Tin fish

fish cutlets

Others

Normal curry is mostly preferred by the people of Kommathurai village.

Consumer’s basic concept for fish selection

Consumer's basic concept for fish selection

50%

25%

20%5%

Taste

Nutrition status

Low cost thanmeat

Whole familymember'spreference food

Basically reason for the selection of fish is because of taste.

Fish availability

65%

20%

10%5% Market

Cycle/Motor cyclevendors

Beach site

Lagoon site

Market (65%) : Easy to purchase Nearest place All fishes available any time of day

Mostly consumed fishes

Sphyraena jello (Seela)

Rachycentron canadum (Viral)

Oreochromis mossambicus (Tilapia)

Conclusions The 95% of people showed the food habit of

non vegetarian and the main meal was fishes. The fish consumption pattern of this area was

5 days per week and most of the consumers added fish for their meal both lunch and dinner.

An adult person intake was about more than 75 g of fish in their daily meal of Kommathurai area.

Cont… 70 % of the people’s consumer preference is all

kind of fishes like sea, lagoon and pond fishes.

Mostly preferred, Sea fish :Sphyraena jello (21.57 %), Lagoon fish : Oreochromis mossambicus (60.0 %) Pond fish : Rachycentron canadum (55.0 %).

Availabilty of fishes, Sea fishes - throughout the year. Lagoon and pond fishes - seasonal Most of the consumers bought fishes from market as

easy to purchase, nearest place and all fishes are available any time of day.

References Balachandran, K.K. (2001). Post harvest technology of

fish and fish products.Pp.1-15, 271-287. Delhi: Daya pulishing house.

Blank, F.C.(2000).Hand book of Food and nutrition. Pp. 172-192. India: Agro botanical publishers.

Sugunan, V. V. (1997). Fisheries and management of small water bodies in seven countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. FAO Fisheries Circular: 933:149.