SURVEY OF ETHNIC LIVE SEAFOOD MARKET OPERATORS IN THE NORTHEASTERN USA

From February through August of 2006, a team of two researchers visited 130 ethnic live seafood markets in the northeastern USA that sell live seafood. Operators of 27% of these locations completed a survey asking basic information about their businesses with respect to live seafood. This study provides interesting baseline information on these markets directly from market managers and operators. The markets surveyed have been in business for median of nine years. Sixty-three percent receive more than one live fish shipment per week. Fifty-five percent of markets sell over 227 kg of live seafood per month. Asians are the predominant clientele in most of these locations. Most market operators stated they prefer freshness and quality over price and availability. About the same number of markets identified strong sales during the winter months as those that indicated constant live seafood sales. Live tilapia and hybrid striped bass are the two most common products. Sixty-two percent of market operators view the live seafood section as very important to overall sales in their store and roughly one-quarter of those surveyed are considering expansion.