Title: Behaviours of seafood consumption and risk perceptions in small island developing states, Mauritius following the MV Wakashio oil spill

Authors: Devendra Appadoo; Dayawatee Goburdhun; Arvind Ruggoo

Addresses: Municipal Council of Quatre Bornes, Saint Jean Road, Quatre Bornes, Republic of Mauritius ' Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius, Reduit 80837, Republic of Mauritius ' Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius, Reduit 80837, Republic of Mauritius

Abstract: The study aims at exploring seafood consumption pattern, risk perceptions and degree of concern regarding the safety of local seafoods before, during and five months after the MV Wakashio oil spill amongst a sample of 400 respondents including three sub-categories namely fishermen (n = 100), consumers in impacted zones (n = 150) and consumers in inland areas (n = 150) using a well-structured questionnaire during face to face interviews. There was a decline in local seafood consumption and an increase in imported seafood consumption from the pre-spill period to the spill and post-spill periods. This was more prevalent among respondents from the impacted zones than the inland respondents. The findings indicate that the oil spill had adverse impacts on Mauritian consumers.

Keywords: behaviours; seafood consumption; risk perceptions; MV Wakashio oil spill; environmental pollution; seafood safety; seafood quality.

DOI: 10.1504/IJFSNPH.2025.149641

International Journal of Food Safety, Nutrition and Public Health, 2025 Vol.6 No.4, pp.203 - 230

Received: 18 Jan 2022
Accepted: 27 Jun 2022
Published online: 10 Nov 2025 *

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