Fish Consumption Patterns of Populations in Vicinities of Lake Kastoria and Lake Pamvotis, Greece

• Main Authors: Maurakis, Eugene G., Grimes, David V., Bobori, Dimitra
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Old Dominion University Libraries 2005
• Subjects: Anguilla anguilla
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.25778/1rhg-sq88; https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/vjs/vol56/iss3/2/

Objectives are to establish fish consumption patterns of populations in vicinities of two lakes (Kastoria and Pamvotis) in Greece for use in the assessment of risks associated with consumption of fishes in these agri-chemically impaired lakes. Parameters measured were demographics (i.e., gender, age, weight, education level, occupation, residency), freshwater fish eating frequency, species and sizes of fishes consumed, and fish consumption habits [i.e., quantity, parts, and preparation method). All annual mean site-specific consumption rates of the four gender-age class sub-populations surveyed in vicinity of Lake Kastoria (avg. range= 0.103-0.29 kg/day) exceed those of Greece (0.066 kg/day), EU (0.068 kg/day), Spain (0.104 kg/day), Portugal (0.159 kg/day), and the USEPA default value (0.054 kg/day) with two exceptions. Female consumption rates (0.087-0.103 kg/day) of Perca fluviatilis were below annual consumption rates of Spain and Portugal. Similarly, annual mean site-specific consumption rates of Anguilla anguilla and Cyprinus carpio by male (0.199-0.210 kg/day) and female adults (0.096-0.157 kg/day) in vicinity of Lake Pamvotis exceeded those of Greece, EU, Spain, Portugal, and the USEPA default value. Survey results indicate better-educated Greeks to be higher consumers of fish; however, market availability appears to be a stronger determinant of food choice in comparison to health education. All populations in vicinities of both lakes preferred to eat fried fishes with one exception: grilled C. carpio from Lake Pamvotis was preferred by female and male adults.