Fish commercialization in the main market places in Monteria, Colombia

Abstract

Fish commercialization in Colombia has increased in the last few years, due to benefits associated to its consumption. In Monteria city, most of the fish is sold in public market places, where currently the state of its commercialization is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate fish commercialization in the Center and South market places of Montería city. Fish retailers (105) were analyzed and 384 consumers were sampled probabilistically. Closed surveys were used and data was analyzed by descriptive statistic. Results showed that 65% retailers were informal and 57% indicated having knowledge of good manufacture practice (GMP). However, 70% retailers had no GMP training, indicating unfamiliarity with minimal food quality criteria. Moreover, they had inappropriate clothing and lack of infrastructure, as well as equipment for food preservation. Commercialized fish is provided from surrounding towns, with 15 tonnes on average being marketed per month. The most marketed fish are Prochilodus magdalenae (94%), catfish (91%) and tilapia (78%). Commercialized fish is purchased weekly by 59% consumers, while 38% consumers purchase commercialized fish each fifteen days. Among consumers, 86% of them prefer to purchase fresh fish, while 8% prefer salted fish and 6% prefer frozen fish. Consumers and retailers are unfamiliar with the GMP that should be used when handling fish. This requires the intervention of surveillance authorities and diffusion of GMP in order to develop a quality culture and offer a safer product.

Keywords

• prochilodus magdalenae
• quality
• gmp