Consumers' preference of fish products in Yenagoa metropolis, Bayelsa State

The study was conducted to assess consumer's preference of fish products in Yenagoa Metropolis, Bayelsa State. One hundred and ninety consumers were randomly selected for the study. Results showed that fishery products in Yenagoa metropolis include fresh, smoked, fried, dried, canned and frozen fish. Sixty-eight percent of the respondents said that the products are enough, whereas seventy-six percent feel the variety of fishery products is low. Majority of the respondents (86%) preferred fresh fish followed by smoked fish which was preferred by sixty-four percent of the respondents. Age, ethnic grouping, gender, marital status and education did not have any significant influence on the preferences of the consumers (P>O.05). Major problems identified by the consumers were exorbitant prices of fish because of the activities of middlemen, unhygienic selling environment and scarcity of fish products. Consequently, it is recommended that an adequate system of financing small scale fisheries be evolved to reduce the influence of middlemen; sanitary laws should be enacted and enforced in the fish markets around the metropolis; Establishment of modern fish markets in Yenagoa to boast fish production, aquacultural investors should be attracted.