Fish consumption and processed fish products in the Republic of North Macedonia

Abstract

Fish is considered to be universal food, as it contains proteins with high biological value, essential fatty acids, especially polyunsaturated fatty acids, contains abundance of minerals and vitamins dissoluble in oil. The fish proteins contain characteristics such as fast boiling process, rather well usage of nutrients, as well as favourable amino acidic structure. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, fish consumption reached a historical record of 20,20 kg per inhabitant on a world level in 2015, compared to 9 kg per inhabitant in 1961. In the Republic of North Macedonia fish consumption per inhabitant 2015 was 5,15 kg, which is by 3,92 times less then the world fish consumption per inhabitant. During the period between 2007 and 2017, the least consumption of 4,05 kg per inhabitant was notified in 2012, whereas in 2017 there was highest fish consumption of 5,68 kg per inhabitant. Fish products were consumed in a very little amount by Macedonian consumers, varying in average of 0,81 kg per inhabitant between 007 and 2017. Macedonian householders annually in average consumed 18,81 kg and 3,10 kg processed fish products between 2007 and 2017. Generally, fish, as well as fish products, can be found in a very little amount in Macedonian home menus. The small consumption of fish and fish products per inhabitant in the The Republic of North Macedonia is due to: low national income per inhabitant in The Republic of North Macedonia, low financial standard of people, the high price of fish, the habits and tradition of people's diet, the market's supply etc.