Evaluating the Marketing Channel and Food Safety of Fish and Seafood Products in Hawaii

This is the description of the seminal research which revolves around a grant proposal to produce the following outputs with funding from NOAA...

Goal: Collect basic information essential to research and policy-making activities related to the supply of safe fish and seafood products (FSP) in Hawaii.

Plan for Objectives:

1. Describe present FSP marketing channels in Hawaii and flows from local, U.S. domestic and foreign sources
2. Reveal attitudes and perceptions of Hawaii FSP market participants (importers, wholesalers, retailers and consumers) toward local FSP.
3. Assess possible performance of existing marketing channels in light of safety requirements on FSP
   Data for the above objectives will be collected from surveys given to segments of market participants with questions regarding:
   a) Socioeconomic-demographic characteristics of respondents
   b) FSP flow handled by respondent (annual sales & purchases (quantity and value) by species)
   c) Perception of respondents toward FSP from Hawaiian waters
   d) Food safety considerations
   e) Reaction to supply constraints when there are restrictions from outside sources
   
   
4. Investigate whether Hawaii restaurants (consumers in general) are substituting high quality local FSP for cheaper imports
5. Identify factors (with focus on "food-safety") that influence the purchase of local FSP by Hawaii restaurants (consumers in general)
6. Examine impacts and implications on purchase patterns of local restaurants (consumers in general) with respect to development of Hawaii fisheries and aquaculture industry
   Data for the above objectives will be collected from surveys given to local consumers with questions regarding:
   a) Socioeconomic-demographic information (from restaurants: annual sales, location, formality, seating capacity, years in business and cuisine type)
   b) Current and planned seafood sales by species and origin (local vs. import)
   c) Perception toward local vs. imported FSP (attributes include: price, customer preference, flavor, quality, freshness, nutritional value, supply reliability and most importantly food safety)
   

Expected Ouputs:

• Report of findings regarding the current structure of the FSP marketing channel in Hawaii. Information will address:
1. Product flow by species across market segments
2. Benefits distribution across market segments 
3. Overall self-sufficiency for Hawaiian islands.
• Assessment of purchasing decisions of local consumers

As the project moves along partnerships will be sought among stakeholders interested in promoting healthy and high-quality FSP from Hawaii. Hopefully the knowledge and methodologies from this seminal effort can inform and enhance similar work for the beef, poultry, fruit/vegetable and non-timber forest product industries in Hawaii.

Setting the Tone

The initial focus for this research will be directed on seafood. Specifically "Evaluating the Marketing Channel and Food Safety of Fish and Seafood Products in Hawaii." This is the title of the grant my adviser received from NOAA. As for the direction of my overall PhD research three chapters have been loosely defined:

I. Value Supply Chain (Benefit Sharing)
II. General Equilibrium Model
III. Natural Resource Accounting/Environmental Costs & Benefits

A number of articles, web sites and journal articles have been given to me. This blog will serve as a receptacle for my thoughts about each information source. Labels will be used to help me conceive the breadth of the data and later reorganize my thoughts into a cohesive and comprehensive body of work regarding the movement to healthier and secure food webs.