FISH CONSUMPTION IN THE LOWER TELES PIRES RIVER REGION, MATO GROSSO, SOUTHERN AMAZON

Abstract

The present research aimed to carry out a diagnosis of fish consumption, identifying problems and solutions to promote fish consumption in the lower Teles Pires River, state of Mato Grosso. The electronic questionnaire was composed of 16 questions, being made available through a link (Google Forms) in virtual environments (emails, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) during July to September 2021. Descriptive analyses and graphic representations were used. We obtained the participation of 130 interviewees from Alta Floresta, The results found reflect an n-sample of interviewees who have access to the internet and the habit of using e-mail, factors that excluded part of the population from the research area. In our research, the main factors for low fish consumption were: the cultural factor (preference or custom to consume other meats), the high price (28%), difficulty in preparation (presence of scales and bones), and food insecurity (contamination by heavy metals and parasites). The amount consumed was 5.52 kg/person/year in 2021 for the inhabitants of Alta Floresta, well below the average consumption in Brazil in 2020 (10.2 kg/person/year of fish) and the amount recommended as the ideal amount from a nutritional point of view by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (12 kg/person/year). Given the need to increase fish consumption in the local, regional, and national context, it is urgent to carry out social intervention work to promote initiatives to increase fish consumption.