In a press release, the lab states that the survey was done under the umbrella of the Omega Peixe project and reveals that 69.3% of those who inquired “expressed willingness to pay more for fish enriched with that nutrient,” with 37.6% “being willing to pay a euro more,” 35.1% willing to pay another 50 cents, 15.4% open to paying 1.5€ more, and 12% 2 or more euros.

“There is, in fact, a larger conscience among consumers about the relation between nutrition and health and this study proves just that,” the executive coordinator of B2E CoLAB, Maria Coelho, stated in the document.

The Portuguese situation “aligns with the values recorded among those inquired in other countries, namely in Europe.”

In a total of 1314 surveys (including Portugal), 71.3% affirmed they’d be open to paying more for fish enriched with omega-3, while only 28.7% of those asked expressed resistance to the price change.

Maria Coelho also underlined that “the acceptance of functional foods, such as fish enriched with omega-3, emphasises the importance of robust scientific studies that sustain confidence in consumers over the health benefits of these products.

The OmegaPeixe project was developed with the goal of “producing turbot and sea bass with omega-3 levels recommended by the World Health Organisation” and, in collaboration with ICBAS/CIIMAR and companies specialised in aquaculture research & development, Sparos and Riasearch, tested “different feeding strategies and introduced improvements in the finishing diets.”

B2E – Collaborative Laboratory for the Blue Bioeconomy, with headquarters in UPTEC Mar, Matosinhos, is a private non-profit entity made up of universities, research centres and private companies championing principles of circularity, sustainability and social responsibility.

The structure, linked to blue bioeconomy in the fields of sustainable aquaculture, marine biotechnology and the valuing of live marine resources, intends to develop innovative solutions that contribute to the building of a greener and more resilient value-added economy.