Seafood consumption patterns among coastal people in Ambon Island, Eastern Indonesia

Abstract

Maluku province is the province with the highest level of fish consumption in Indonesia. It exceeds the level of national fish consumption. However, the fish consumption level in Maluku province by the district is uneven. The recent data showed that Ambon City ranks last in the level of fish consumption compared to ten other districts in the province. Whereas local inhabitants who mostly live along the island’s coastal areas often claim themselves as “fish-eaters” because of their dependence on seafood, especially fish for daily consumption. This paper illustrated the extent to which claim or identification as "fish-eaters" among the coastal people of Ambon Island can be maintained or proven. Using field data from two villages in the Ambon municipality, the pattern of seafood consumption and distribution were described through household surveys and interviews. The findings showed that the level of seafood consumption was still high for lunch and dinner, which are considered as “heavy meals” compared to breakfast. The source of obtaining seafood was mostly from the community’s catch or harvest.